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TAYLOR 


A    LIFE 


GEN,  ZACHARY  TAYLOR; 


COMPRISING 


A   NARRATIVE   OF  EVENTS 


CONNECTED 

WITH  HIS  PEOFESSIONAL  CAREER, 

DERIVED  FROM  PUBLIC  DOCUMENTS  AND  PRIVATE  CORRESPONDENCE} 

BY   J.    REESE   FRY; 

AND 

. 

AUTHENTIC  INCIDENTS  OF  HIS  EARLY  YEARS, 


FROM  MATERIALS  COLLECTED  BY 
' 

ROBERT  T.   CONRAD. 

WITH  AN  ORIGINAL   AND  ACCURATE   PORTRAIT 

» 

AND 
ELEVEN    ELEG-ANT    ILLUSTRATIONS 

Of  the  Battles  of  Fort  Harrison,  Okee-cho-bee,  Palo  Alto,  Resaca  de 
la  Palma,  Monterey,  and  Buena  Vista,  &c.,  &c. 

DESIGNED    BY    F.    O.    0.    DARLEY.  -^  ^ 


PHILADELPHIA: 

GRIGG,    ELLIOT    &    CO 

No.  14  NORTH  FOURTH  STREET. 

1848. 


*»      p 


*          *  *  "*'* 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1847,  by 
GRIGG,  ELLIOT  &  CO., 

in  the  clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


STEREOTYPED    BY    J.    FAGAN. 
PRINTED     BY    T.     K.     AND    P.     G.     COLLINS. 


(2) 


T  •*'•**   .        f  ^ 

4J-  >  *!*      T  x»«  C 

#•      .  ,*  '    »,'• 

ADVERTISEMENT. 


IT  was  expected,  by  the  publishers  of  this  volume,  that, 
according  to  their  announcement,  a  Life  of  General  Taylor,  by 
R.  T.  CONRAD,  ESQ.,  would  be  ready  at  the  present  time.  To 
collect  materials  respecting  the  early  years  of  General  Taylor, 
Mr.  Conrad  visited  Kentucky  during  the  past  summer,  and 
was  about  to  begin  the  work,  when  prevented  by  other  engage 
ments.  His  memoranda,  however,  were  kindly  placed  at  the 
disposal  of  the  publishers,  and  have  supplied  interesting  facts 
for  the  present  volume,  for  the  use  of  which  they  make  this 
acknowledgment  on  their  own  behalf  and  that  of  the  author. 

PHILADELPHIA,  OCTOBER  10, 1847. 

(3) 


• 


* 


PKEFACE. 


f 


. 

*r 

**~ 


THE  time  is  not  yet  mature  for  a  biography  of  General  Tay 
lor,  which  will  do  thorough  justice  to  his  character  and  military 
services.  Only  eighteen  months  have  elapsed,  since  his  ability 
as  a  commander  began  to  be  generally  recognized.  His  varied 
and  extraordinary  achievements  within  that  period  have- justly 
excited  popular  curiosity  regarding  his  early  life,  as  well  as  his 
late  career.  To  meet,  therefore,  a  want  of  the  day,  this  volume 
has  been  prepared.  No  profession  is  made  respecting  it,  ex 
cept  that  pains  have  been  taken  to  procure  accurate  information 
touching  the  circumstances  of  Taylor's  family,  the  incidents  of 
his  youth,  and  his  services  in  the  Indian  wars.  The  outline  of 
his  proceedings  in  Mexico  is  drawn  partly  from  private  letters, 
but  chiefly  from  his  own  official  correspondence. 

It  may  be  proper  to  add,  that,  to  make  this  volume  accepta 
ble  to  a  class  of  present  readers,  it  was  thought  expedient 
to  be  diffuse  in  some  instances  where  permanent  favour  would 
have  suggested  condensation,  and  to  be  brief  in  others,  where 
the  same  reason  would  have  demanded  comprehensive  state 
ments  or  remarks.  Still  it  is  believed  that  the  narrative  is 
neither  impeded  by  irrelevant  matter,  nor  deficient  in  any  es 
sential  particular. 

(4) 


•••*« 


CONTENTS. 

*T'*    'J&fa^'  ±.  •  *• 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  Taylor  Family  —  Kentucky  in  1775  — Birth  of  Zachary  Taylor  — 
Emigration  of  the  Family  to  Kentucky — Hancock  Taylor — Danger  from 
the  Indians — Zachary  Taylor's  Schoolmaster — His  First  Lesson  in  Tac 
tics — His  Prosperity  as  a  Farmer — Peace  with  the  Indians — Volunteers 
to  oppose  Burr's  Designs — Commissioned  a  Lieutenant  in  U.  S.  Army 
— His  Marriage — The  Indians  under  Tecumseh — Harrison's  Expedition 
against  them — Taylor  promoted  to  a  Captaincy — War  with  England- 
Attack  on  Fort  Harrison — Taylor's  Defence  of  it — His  First  Despatch 
— Further  Services — Major  by  Brevet 13 

CHAPTER  II. 

Injustice  to  Army  Officers — Taylor's  Resignation  and  Reinstatement — Va 
rious  Services  from  1816  to  1832 — Anecdote  of  his  Habits — Promoted 
to  a  Colonelcy — Black  Hawk  War — Battle  of  Bad-Axe — Gen.  Atkin 
son's  Despatch — Anecdote  of  Taylor — Services  until  1836 29 


CHAPTER  III. 


<1 

Destiny  of  the  Indian  Races — Causes  of  the  Florida  War — Osceola — 
Commencement  of  the  Florida  War — Troops  in  Florida — Massacre  of 
Dade's  Command — Volunteers  in  Florida — Taylor  ordered  to  the  Seat 
of  War — Marches  against  the  Indians — Difficulties  of  the  March — Bat 
tle  of  Okeechobee— Gallantry  of  the  Troops — The  Killed  and  Wounded 
—Taylor's  Account  of  the  Battle — Its  Results — Taylor  applauded  by 
the  Country — Promoted  to  a  Brigadier  Generalship — Appointed  to  the 
chief  Command  in  Florida — Use  of  Blood-hounds — Authority  for  the 
Use — Reasons  for  the  same — Indian  Murders,  several  Accounts — Their 
Perfidy — Taylor  vindicated — He  retires  from  the  Command  in  Florida.  37 
1*  '  (5) 


VI  CONTENTS. 

. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

General  Taylor  in  the  South-west — Tender  of  a  public  Dinner — Mexico  in 
1822 — Spirit  of  her  Institutions — Injustice  to  Texas — Revolt  of  Texas 
— Annexation  of  Texas — Duty  of  a  Soldier — Taylor  ordered  to  defend 
Texas — Conditions  of  the  Order — Invasion  of  Texas  defined — Gen. 
Taylor  embarks  for  Corpus  Christi — Number  of  his  Troops — Ordered  to  ^ 
Matamoros — His  Despatches  from  the  date  of  embarking  for  Corpus 
Christi  to  the  breaking  up  of  the  Camp  at  that  point 68 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  March  from  Corpus  Christi  to  the  Rio  Grande  commenced — Face  of 
the  Country  —  Sufferings  of  the  Troops — Mexican  Demonstration — 
American  Action  —  Point  Isabel  invested — The  March  resumed — En 
campment  on  the  Rio  Grande — Conference  rejected  —  Entrenchments 
commenced — Despatches  of  General  Taylor — Ampudia's  Magnanimity 
— A  Deserter  shot — Fort  Brown — Murder  of  Colonel  Cross — Corre 
spondence,  Ampudia  and  Taylor — General  Arista — Blockade  of  the  Rio 
Grande — Correspondence  on  the  Subject — Mexicans  crossing  the  River 
— Capture  of  Thornton's  Command — Mexican  Exultation — Manifesto 
of  Arista — Point  Isabel  in  Danger — Requisition  for  Volunteers — Cap 
tain  Walker's  First  Exploit— Resolution  to  relieve  Point  Isabel 87 

^JT"  ^  *"    *    *  .     % 

CHAPTER  VL 

Rejoicing  in  Matamoros — Arista,  with  his  Forces,  crosses  the  River — His 
Disappointment  at  Taylor's  Escape — Mexican  Narrative  of  both  Move 
ments — Ardour  of  the  Mexicans — Terror  of  the  Americans — Their  Du 
plicity  and  Treachery  —  Taylor's  Ignominy  —  Bombardment  of  Fort 
Brown — Taylor's  Instructions — May's  and  Walker's  Mission  —  New 
Mexican  Batteries — Their  Fire  not  returned — Mexican  Account  of  the 
Bombardment — Eternal  Honour  of  Mexican  Artillery-men — Barbarous 
Pleasure  of  the  Americans — Their  Cowardice  and  Stupidity — Mexican 
Triumph — American  Loss — Mexican  Superiority — Continuation  of  the 
Bombardment — Death  oFMajor  Brown— New  Mexican  Batteries — Cap 
tain  Hawkins  summoned  to  Surrender — Arista's  modest  Letter — Haw- 
kins'  presumptuous  Answer — Want  of  Ammunition — Preparations  for 
an  Assault — Weariness  of  the  Men  in  the  Fort — Signals  of  Relief.. ...  108 

CHAPTER  VII. 

General  Taylor  leaves  Point  Isabel  for  Fort  Brown — His  Force — The 
March — Enemy  reported — Rest  before  battle — Palo  Alto — Enemy  in 


CONTENTS.  Vli 

sight — Taylor's  order  of  battle — Lieut.  Blake's  bold  reconnoissance— 
Taylor's  confidence — Arista's  Force  and  order  of  battle — The  Enemy's 
first  Fire — The  Answer  and  its  Effect — Charge  by  the  Lancers — Their 
repulse — Fall  of  Ringgold — The  Prairie  on  fire — Charge  on  the  Train 
— Duncan's  Battery— May's  gallantry — The  last  Charge — The  Field 
won — The  Loss — Taylor's  first  Despatch — His  detailed  account  of  the 
Action — Mention  of  Lieut.  Blake — Of  the  Artillery — Of  Lieut.  Luther 
— Statement  of  Forces — Arista's  Despatch — Misstatement  of  his  Force — 
Explanations  of  Failure — False  colouring — Acknowledgment  of  Loss — 
Remarks  on  the  causes  of  the  Victory 119 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Mexican  Army  retreating — Taylor's  March  resumed — Mexican  Dead  and 
Wounded — Skirmishes  with  the  Enemy — Mexican  Army  formed — Its 
Position — La  Resaca  de  la  Palma — The  Battle  commenced — The  Artil 
lery — Infantry  engaged — Close  Quarters — The  Enemy's  Batteries — 
May  ordered  to  charge  them — Ridgely's  Gallantry — May's  furious  Onset 
— Inge's  and  Sackett's  Death — Batteries  captured — La  Vega  a  Prisoner 
—  The  Fifth  Infantry's  charge— Personal  deeds— The  Enemy's  bra- 
very— Officers  Wounded  and  Killed— Arista's  Camp  taken — The  Tam- 
pico  Battalion — Rout  of  the  Enemy — The  Booty — The  Loss — Tay 
lor's  first  Despatch — His  detailed  Account — Encomiums  on  his  Troops 
— Mistakes  of  Arista — Misery  of  routed  Troops — Gen.  Taylor's  care  of 
the  Wounded — His  return  to  Point  Isabel — Congratulates  his  Troops 
— Mexican  Commander's  Manifesto — Remarks  on  causes  of  his  Defeat 
— Inferiority  of  Officers — Authority  cited — Self-devotion  of  American 
Officers — Examples — Anecdotes  of  Heroism — Ridgely — Page — Payne 
— Ringgold — Richey — Woods  and  Hays — Augur  and  Cochrane — Bar- 
bour — May — Melton — Lincoln  and  Jordan — Belknap  and  Scott — Mc- 
Intosh — Letter  of  a  Witness 135 

CHAPTER  IX. 

The  8th  of  May  at  Fort  Brown — Anxiety  of  the  Garrison — News  of 
Palo  Alto— Bombardment  on  the  9th — Mexican  Fugitives  seen — Reck 
lessness  in  their  Panic — Disappointment  and  Suffering  in  Matamoros — 
The  Wounded  and  Dead — Despatches  from  Taylor — Incidents  of  La 
Vega's  Capture — Taylor's  Courtesy  to  him — Taylor's  return  to  the  Rio 
Grande — Commodore  Conner — Barita  taken — Preparations  to  Bombard 
Matamoros — Armistice  offered  and  refused — Arista's  final  Retreat — Oc 
cupation  of  Matamoros — Despatch  from  General  Taylor — Arista's  report 
of  his  Retreat — Anecdote  of  Ampudia — Document  found  in  Arista's 
Tent— Result  of  Taylor's  Operations 160 


Till  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  X. 

War  recognized  by  Congress — Men  and  Money  voted — General  Taylor 
embarrassed — Inadequate  means  of  advancing — Letter  to  the  Depart 
ment — Difficulties  and  Wants  explained — Further  correspondence — Sug 
gestions  regarding  his  advance — Letter  from  the  Secretary  of  War — 
Taylor  recommended  to  advance  on  Monterey — His  Views  on  the  Cam 
paign  requested — Continued  Difficulties — Further  despatches — Arrival 
of  Volunteers — Causes  of  Inactivity  explained — Minor  Expeditions — 
More  Troops — Letter  from  General  Scott — News  of  Taylor's  Victories 
reaches  the  United  States — Popular  Enthusiasm — Created  Brigadier 
General  by  Brevet — President's  Letter — Thanks  voted  by  Louisiana 
Legislature — Deputation  to  Taylor — His  Speech  to  the  Committee — 
Made  a  full  Major  General  by  Congress — Correspondence — Taylor's 
Views  of  future  Operations — Camargo  taken — Despatches 177 

CHAPTER  XL 

**  ' 

Civil  Dissensions  of  the  Mexicans — Tyranny  of  Paredes — Popular  Defec 
tions — Conspirators  apprehended — Liberty  of  the  Press  abolished — Un 
wise  Policy  of  Paredes — News  of  Arista's  Defeat  received — Sensation 
in  the  Capital — Money  refused  by  the  Clergy — Decline  of  Paredes' 
authority — Movement  in  favour  of  Santa  Anna — Civil  War  in  Mexico — 
Blockade  by  the  United  States  of  Mexican  Ports— Plans  of  the  United 
States  Government — Plans  of  General  Taylor — Proclamation  to  the 
People  of  Mexico — Confidential  Letter  to  Taylor — Taylor's  Answer — 
Santa  Anna  proclaimed  in  Vera  Cruz — Excitement  in  the  Capital — 
Fall  of  Paredes — Santa  Anna's  return  to  Mexico — Government  of  de 
Salas — Santa  Anna's  triumphal  entry  into  the  Capital — His  pledges  to 
the  Mexicans — Taylor's  Arrangements  complete  for  his  Advance — His 
Difficulties  explained — Enumeration  of  his  Force — March  of  Worth's 
Division — Of  Butler's  and  Twiggs' Divisions — Report  of  Forces  against 
Monterey — Sufferings  and  Death  of  Volunteers — March  of  Worth's  Di 
vision  towards  Monterey 195 

•'•£&        '•'        '•"  • 
CHAPTER  XII. 

Enemy  reinforced  at  Monterey — Taylor,  with  Twiggs'  and  Butler's  Divi 
sions,  marches  from  Camargo — The  March — Rest  at  Seralvo — Appear 
ance  of  the  Country — Mexican  Forces  discovered — The  Advance  before 
Monterey  fired  upon — Encampment  at  Walnut  Springs — Description  of 
Monterey — Its  Fortifications — Mexican  Forces  in  it — Ampudia's  Ad 
dress — Taylor's  Reconnoissance — His  Plan  of  Assault — Worth's  Expe 
dition — His  movement  on  the  20th — Skirmish  on  the  2 1st — Occupa- 


*  "  '    ':jA** 

CONTENTS.  Lt 

tion  of  the  Saltillo  Pass — Movements  of  Butler's  Division — First  Fort 
in  the  Eastern  Suburbs  carried — Terrible  Fire  of  the  Enemy's  Bat 
teries — Repulse  of  the  Lancers — Two  Forts  on  the  Heights  carried — 
Losses  on  the  First  Day — Dispositions  for  the  Night 215 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Independencia  carried — Sortie  from  the  Palace — Enemy  repulsed  and  Pa 
lace  taken — Operations  on  the  Eastern  Quarter — Progress  towards  the 
Heart  of  the  Town — Worth's  Progress  on  Opposite  Side — Command 
of  the  Main  Plaza— Flag  of  Truce — Suspension  of  the  Attack— Tay 
lor's  Despatch — Correspondence  with  Ampudia  and  the  Governor — Tay 
lor's  Detailed  Report  of  the  Siege — Extract  from  Worth's  Report — Com 
ments  on  the  Action — Conference  between  Ampudia  and  Taylor — Com 
missioners  on  the  Capitulation  appointed — Proceedings  of  the  Commis 
sion—Terms  of  Capitulation— Report  of  Killed  and  Wounded 232 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Occupation  of  the  City  by  Worth's  Division — Encampment  of  Butler's 
and  Twiggs'  Divisions — Consideration  of  the  Terms  of  Capitulation- 
Implied  Censure  by  Congress  of  the  Terms — Defence  of  the  same — Jef 
ferson  Davis'  Views  regarding  the  Capitulation — Taylor's  Letter  to  the 
Adjutant  General  justifying  it — Private  Letter  on  the  same  Subject,  and 
on  his  past  Operations  and  future  Plans — Concluding  Remarks 263 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Taylor's  Force  after  the  Capitulation  of  Monterey — Reflections  on  his 
Course — Advices  from  Washington — Instructions  regarding  Supplies- 
Regarding  an  Expedition  against  the  Coast — Further  Correspondence 
— Taylor's  Replies — Opinions  regarding  his  own  future  Operations — Re 
garding  the  Force  requisite  to  invest  Vera  Cruz — Assertion  of  his  Rights 
as  Commander — Answer  to  the  Secretary  respecting  forced  Supplies — 
General  Wool's  Entry  into  Monclova 274 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

March  of  Worth's  Division  for  Saltillo — Taylor's  Instructions — His  reasons 
for  holding  Saltillo — Opinion  regarding  the  Expedition  against  Vera 
Cruz — The  Forces  necessary — Taylor  visits  Saltillo — Protest  of  the  Go 
vernor — Relative  position  of  the  Divisions — Tampico  occupied — Taylor 
sets  out  for  Victoria  with  Twiggs'  and  Quitman's  Brigades — Returns 
with  the  former — Concentration  at  Saltillo — Arrival  of  Wool's  Division 
expected — Taylor  marches  again  for  Victoria  with  Twiggs'  Division — 
Occupation  of  Victoria — Forces  there— Government  Plans  against  Vera 


X  CONTENTS. 

Cruz — Letter  from  General  Scott  to  General  Taylor — Forces  withdrawn 
from  General  Taylor — Address  to  his  Troops — Loss  of  May's  Rear-guard 
— Capture  of  Majors  Borland,  Gaines,  and  C.  M.  Clay — Affairs  of 
Mexico— Activity  of  Santa  Anna — His  advance  to  San  Luis — General 
Wool's  Camp — Taylor's  advance  to  Saltillo — Camp  at  Agua  Nueva — 
At  Buena  Vista— Enumeration  of  Santa  Anna's  Forces— of  Taylor's 
Forces . 289 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Taylor's  Position  at  Buena  Vista — Washington's  Birth-day — Summons 
of  Santa  Anna  to  Taylor  to  Surrender—The  Reply— Taylor's  Detailed 
Report  of  the  Battle — His  order  of  Battle  on  the  22d — Skirmishes — 
Minon's  Cavalry  in  the  Rear — Battle  on  the  23d — Attack  of  the  Enemy 
on  the  Left  and  Centre — Partial  success  of  the  Attack — Service  of  the 
Artillery — Repulse  of  the  Enemy — Ruse  of  Santa  Anna — Death  of  Yell 
and  Vaughan — Renewed  Attacks  of  the  Enemy — Bragg's  Battery — The 
Day  saved — Death  of  Hardin,  McKee,  Lincoln,  and  Clay — Incidents 
after  the  Battle — Comparative  Losses — General  Wool  and  other  Officers 
and  Corps  distinguished — Official  Return  of  Loss — Private  Letter  to 
General  Butler— Taylor's  Views  of  the  Battle — Congratulatory  Orders 
—Letters  to  Henry  Clay  and  Governor  Lincoln — Rejoicings  in  the 
United  States — Mr.  Crittenden — Repulse  of  Urrea  and  Romaro  by  Ma 
jor  Giddings — Taylor's  pursuit  of  them — Return  to  his  Head-quarters 
—Public  Estimation  of  Taylor — The  Presidency — His  Personal  Views 
as  a  Candidate— Concluding  Remarks  on  his  Character 299 

7     "'       4*      •- 


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SEAT  OF  GENERAL  TAYLOR'S  OPERATIONS 


£2 


(To  face  page  13.) 


LIFE 

OF 

GENERAL  TAYLOR. 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  Taylor  Family — Kentucky  in  1775 — Birth  of  Zachary  Taylor — Emigration 
of  the  Family  to  Kentucky — Hancock  Taylor — Danger  from  the  Indians — 
Zachary  Taylor's  Schoolmaster — His  First  Lesson  in  Tactics — His  Prosperity 
as  a  Farmer — Peace  with  the  Indians — Volunteers  to  oppose  Burr's  Designs 
— Commissioned  a  Lieutenant  in  U.  !S.  Army — His  Marriage — The  Indians 
under  Tecumseh — Harrison's  Expedition  against  them — Taylor  promoted  to 
a  Captaincy — War  with  England — Attack  on  Fort  Harrison — Taylor's  De 
fence  of  it — His  First  Despatch — Further  Services — Major  by  Brevet. 

THE  republican  principles  and  customs  of  our  country  hap 
pily  forbid  personal  distinction  founded  merely  upon  ancestral 
rank.  We  incline  rather  to  celebrate  a  name  first  made  illus 
trious  in  our  own  day,  than  one  which  borrows  its  light  from 
the  glory  of  other  generations.  Yet  we  fail  not  in  due  re 
spect  for  the  character  which  worthily  sustains  inherited  supe 
riority.  In  this  spirit,  we  commence  a  biography  of  General 
Taylor,  by  citing  the  honourable  families  whose  blood  is 
mingled  in  his  veins.  Original  obscurity  or  early  trials  could 
not  have  shadowed  his  genius  or  repressed  his  energies.  But 
springing  from  a  stock,  to  be  worthy  of  which  were  a  singular 
merit,  he  has  proved  himself  its  noblest  scion,  and,  amid  a 
halo  of  kindred  names,  his  own  has  suddenly  risen  to  be  the 
highest  and  brightest. 

The  family  of  the  Virginia  Taylors  is  allied  to  the  oldest 
and  most  distinguished  of  that  state.  Its  first  representatives 
emigrated  from  England,  and  settled  in  the  south-eastern  part 
of  the  colony,  towards  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century, 

, 


14  THE     TAYLOR    FAMILY. 

In  the  different  branches  of  it  are  found  the  Lees,  the  Bar- 
bours,  the  Madisons,  the  Conways,  the  Pendletons,  the  Hunts, 
the  Taliaferros,  the  Gaineses,  and  others,  whose  public  ser 
vices  and  virtues,  during  a  hundred  years,  are  commemo 
rated  in  our  colonial  and  national  history. 

Richard  Taylor,  the  father  of  General  Zachary  Taylor,  was 
born  in  Virginia,  on  the  22d  day  of  March,  1744.  He  appears 
to  have  received  a  plain  but  solid  education,  and  evinced  in 
his  boyhood  the  daring  and  adventurous  spirit,  which  led  him 
to  seek  a  home  and  independence  in  the  wilderness  of  the 
Mississippi  valley.  While  yet  at  school,  he  entered  into  a 
compact,  with  some  of  his  mates,  to  visit  Kentucky  when  they 
should  grow  up.  He,  at  least,  adhered  to  his  purpose.  When 
still  very  young,  he  set  out,  and  reached  "  the  dark  and  bloody 
ground,"  on  which,  at  that  time,  the  dwelling  of  a  civilized 
man  had  not  been  reared.  His  survey  of  the  country  ex 
tended  to  the  Mississippi,  down  which  he  proceeded  as  far  as 
Natchez.  From  that  point,  his  face  was  then  turned  home 
ward;  and,  without  guide  or  companion,  through  pathless 
woods,  over  rivers  and  mountains,  fearless  alike  of  the  seasons, 
of  savages,  or  of  any  peril  of  his  long  and  lonely  way,  he 
walked  back  to  his  father's  house  in  Virginia.  All  that  he  had 
seen  served  but  to  confirm,  in  his  imagination,  the  charms 
of  border  life ;  and,  although  he  continued  to  reside  many 
years  in  Virginia,  he  subsequently  fulfilled  his  desire  of  making 
his  home  in  the  great  west. 

On  the  20th  of  August,  1779,  when  thirty-five  years  old,  he 
was  married  to  Sarah  Strother,  a  young  lady,  of  good  family, 
then  in  her  twentieth  year.  At  this  time,  he  held  a  colonel's 
commission  in  the  Virginia  Line,  and  served  with  zeal  and 
honour  through  the  revolutionary  war. 

Five  sons  and  three  daughters  were  the  offspring  of  this  mar 
riage, — the  first  child  born  in  1781.  Zachary  Taylor,  the  sub 
ject  of  this  memoir,  the  third  son  of  Colonel  Richard  Taylor, 
was  born  in  Orange  county,  Virginia,  on  the  twenty-fourth  day 
of  November,  1784.  In  the  following  summer,  his  father  ful 
filled  his  long-cherished  intention  of  emigrating  to  Kentucky. 


KENTUCKY    PIONEERS.  15 

Only  ten  years  before,  the  first  habitation  of  a  white  man  had 
been  erected  in  the  vast  region  between  the  western  boundary 
of  Virginia  and  the  Mississippi.  Within  this  period,  a  few  set 
tlements  had  been  made,  insufficient,  however,  from  their 
feebleness  and  isolated  positions,  to  secure  to  the  emigrant 
adequate  protection  from  the  Indians,  much  less  to  afford  him 
the  most  usual  comforts  of  civilized  life.  Peril  and  privation, 
to  which  only  superior  courage  and  fortitude  were  equal,  were 
the  lot  of  all  who  sought  a  home  in  the  primitive  woods,  and 
in  the  hunting-grounds  of  hostile  savages. 

In  the  emigration  of  Colonel  Richard  Taylor  to  this  country, 
he  had  been  preceded  by  his  brother  Hancock,  a  brave  and 
intelligent  man,  who  fell  a  sacrifice  in  the  enterprise  of  sur 
veying  parts  of  the  Ohio  valley.  He  is  said  to  have  selected, 
for  his  farm,  the  site  of  the  city  of  Louisville.  He  is  thus 
mentioned  in  Marshall's  History  of  Kentucky. 

"  After  Douglass,  (a  surveyor,  who  died  on  the  Kentucky 
river,  while  engaged  in  his  profession,)  and  pursued  by  a  fate 
more  malignant,  was  Hancock  Taylor ;  a  surveyor  also,  and  a 
man  of  more  enterprise.  He,  too,  landed  at  the  falls  of  the 
Ohio,  and,  after  making  a  number  of  surveys,  by  virtue  of  mili 
tary  warrants,  was  killed  by  the  Indians,  who  made  a  sudden 
onset  before  he  was  apprized  of  danger.  Thus  fell  an  intelli 
gent  and  worthy  man.  One  of  his  attendants  had  the  pre 
caution  to  secure  and  bring  off  his  book  of  field  notes,  which 
was  rendered  effectual  [adopted  as  authority,]  by  an  act  of  the 
legislature." 

Under  the  guidance  of  such  men,  and  under  such  circum 
stances  for  the  development  of  his  bold  spirit  and  active  intel 
lect,  Zachary  Taylor  passed  his  infant  years.  The  hardships 
and  dangers  of  border  life  were  to  him  as  familiar  as  ease  and 
security  to  the  child  of  metropolitan  luxury.  His  father  had 
settled  in  Jefferson  county,  about  two  miles  from  the  Ohio 
river,  and  five  miles  from  Louisville,  where  he  acquired  a 
large  estate  by  his  industry  and  thrift,  and  honourable  con 
sideration  by  his  intelligence,  bravery,  and  patriotism.  As 
Louisville  rose  into  importance,  his  own  fortune  and  local  dis- 


16  TAYLOR'S   SCHOOLMASTER. 

tinction  increased.  He  received  from  President  Washington 
a  commission  as  collector  of  that  port,  New  Orleans  being  then 
in  possession  of  the  Spaniards.  He  had  been  a  personal  friend 
of  Washington,  prior  to  his  emigration  from  Virginia,  and  his 
worth  was,  therefore,  familiar  to  that  great  man,  from  early 
knowledge  as  well  as  later  report. 

One  of  the  chief  cares  of  Colonel  Taylor  was  the  education 
of  his  children.  During  the  first  ten  or  fifteen  years  of  his 
residence  in  Kentucky,  the  country  being  sparsely  settled,  and 
exposed  to  Indian  enemies,  this  purpose  could  be  accomplished 
only  in  a  very  partial  degree.  A  school,  for  the  rudiments  of 
English  merely,  was  established  in  his  neighbourhood  by 
Elisha  Ayres,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  who  afterwards  returned 
to  that  state,  and  now  resides,  a  venerable  gentleman  of  four 
score  years,  at  Preston,  in  the  vicinity  of  Norwich.  A  letter 
from  him,  written  during  the  past  summer  to  the  author  of  this 
volume,  in  answer  to  one  of  inquiry  concerning  the  school-boy 
days  of  General  Taylor,  explains  satisfactorily  the  circum 
stances  in  which  they  were  passed,  and  exhibits  the  character 
of  our  hero,  at  that  time,  in  a  light  worthy  of  his  mature  re 
putation. 

In  the  language  of  Mr.  Ayres,  "  the  Kentuckians  were  then 
a  warlike  and  chivalrous  people,  and  they  were  often  engaged 
in  offensive  or  defensive  skirmishes  with  the  Indians.  A 
number  were  known  to  be  in  the  woods  not  far  distant  from 
the  school-house,  and,  on  one  occasion,  one  of  them  was  shot, 
wearing  a  British  uniform.  In  their  hostility  to  the  Americans, 
they  were  encouraged  and  sustained  by  the  British  authorities 
on  the  Northern  frontier.  There  was  a  Mr.  Whetsel,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  school,  who,  having  been  once  chased  by 
three  or  four  Indians,  loaded  his  rifle  wrhile  running,  and  suc 
cessively  shot  them  all.  This  exploit  made  Whetsel  famous, 
and  he  became  the  instructor  of  the  young  men  and  boys  in 
the  neighbourhood,  in  his  mode  of  maintaining  a  running  fire. 
Among  his  pupils,  it  is  believed,  was  young  Zachary,"  It 
may  be  remarked,  upon  this  recital  of  "  young  Zachary's" 
first  training  in  the  art  of  war,  that  he  has  apparently  forgotten 


TAYLOR'S  FIRST  LESSON  IN  THE  ART  OF  WAR. 


TAYLOR    A     FARMER.  17 

the  "  running"  lessons,  although,  in  other  respects,  he  abin- 
dantly  justifies  the  tuition  of  the  valiant  Whetsel.  Among  the 
anecdotes  current  in  Kentucky  respecting  his  childhood,  is 
one  of  his  watching  at  home  with  his  brother,  and  casting 
bullets,  while  his  father  was  out  engaged  with  the  Indians. 
Such,  in  fact,  was  the  constant  necessity  of  guarding  against 
these  cunning  and  implacable  foes,  that  the  physician  of  the 
neighbourhood  habitually  rode  with  pistols  at  his  saddlebows. 

All  attempts  to  placate  or  subdue  the  Indians  had  failed, 
prior  to  the  date  of  Wayne's  decisive  victory  over  them.  In 
1795,  the  year  following  that  important  achievement,  a  general 
peace  was  concluded.  From  that  period,  the  population  of 
Kentucky  increased  rapidly,  and  civilized  labour  and  enter 
prise  began  to  enjoy  their  due  reward.  Zachary  Taylor  was 
reared  by  his  father  to  his  own  profession — that  of  a  farmer  ; 
and,  until  his  majority,  was  practically  engaged  in  it,  working 
with  his  own  hands,  and  laying  the  foundation  of  the  robust 
health,  hardy  habits,  and  persevering  industry,  which  have 
borne  the  test  of  various  climate,  rude  fare,  and  severe  duty, 
during  a  military  life  of  more  than  thirty  years.  The  service 
very  early  engaged  his  affections  and  excited  his  ambition. 
When  Aaron  Burr's  movements  in  the  west  began  to  arouse 
suspicion,  the  patriotic  young  men  of  Kentucky  formed  volun 
teer  companies,  to  oppose  his  designs  by  arms,  if  occasion 
should  demand  such  a  resort.  Zachary  Taylor,  and  one  or 
more  of  his  brothers,  were  enrolled  in  a  troop  raised  for  this 
purpose. 

After  the  alarm  had  subsided,  he  returned  to  his  farm,  which 
he  continued  to  cultivate  successfully,  until  the  death  of  his 
brother,  Lieutenant  Taylor.  The  latter  held  a  commission  in 
the  United  States  army,  and,  dying  in  the  service,  an  oppor 
tunity  was  afforded  Zachary  of  obtaining  the  vacancy.  Through 
the  influence  of  his  relative,  James  Madison,  of  his  uncle, 
Major  Edmund  Taylor,  and  of  his  father,  this  object  was  ac 
complished  ;  and,  on  the  3d  of  May,  1808,  he  received  his 
commission  as  first  lieutenant  in  the  seventh  regiment  of  United 
States  Infantry.  At  this  time,  he  was  already  in  the  enjoyment 
2* 


18  WAR    WITH    GREAT    BRITAIN. 

of  a  fortune,  which,  although  moderate,  was  more  than  suffi 
cient  for  his  wants.  But  the  activity  of  his  mind,  his  aspira 
tions  for  a  larger  sphere  of  employment,  and,  it  may  be,  for 
the  distinction  of  an  officer  in  the  national  service,  were  supe 
rior  to  the  inclination  for  the  quiet  and  profitable  occupation  of 
landed  proprietor.  His  first  experience  in  his  new  vocation 
had  nearly  proved  fatal.  He  was  ordered  to  report  himself  to 
General  Wilkinson  in  New  Orleans;  and,  being  taken  there 
with  the  yellow  fever,  was  obliged  to  return  home  to  recruit 
his  health.  He  appears  to  have  employed  his  time  sedulously 
in  the  study  of  his  profession,  as  we  find  him,  three  years  from 
this  time,  fulfilling  with  honour  a  dangerous  and  important 
post. 

The  aggressive  policy  of  England  had  been  meanwhile  pre 
paring  the  public  mind  for  the  declaration  of  war.  The  emis 
saries  of  her  government,  employed  among  the  Indian  tribes 
north  of  the  Ohio,  had  incited  anew  their  hostility  to  the  Ame 
rican  settlers,  who  were  kept  in  constant  apprehension  of  an 
attack.  Under  these  circumstances,  it  was  deemed  advisable 
by  the  government  to  make  the  first  demonstration,  and 
General  Harrison,  then  Governor  of  the  North-west  Territory, 
was  ordered  to  march  a  force  into  the  Indian  country.  In  the 
progress  of  this  expedition  he  erected  on  the  Wabash  River, 
in  Indiana,  a  block-house  and  stockade,  which  received  the 
name  of  Fort  Harrison.  Lieutenant  Taylor  took  part  in  this 
duty,  and  was  afterwards  kept  actively  engaged  in  watching 
the  Indians  and  thwarting  their  adverse  movements.  His  mar 
riage  had  taken  place  in  1810,  and  he  left  at  home  a  young 
wife  and  child  to  join  his  command.  Communications  with 
his  family  were  difficult  and  infrequent, — at  times  so  long  in 
terrupted  that  he  was  supposed  to  have  fallen  a  victim  to  the 
perilous  enterprise  in  which  he  was  employed.  His  services 
were  appreciated  by  President  Madison,  who  rewarded  them 
by  a  captain's  commission,  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1812. 
He  was  then  placed  in  command  of  Fort  Harrison,  and  soon 
afterwards  Congress  declared  war  against  Great  Britain.  From 
this  period  may  be  dated  his  first  actual  encounter  with  an 


INDIAN    HOSTILITIES.  19 

enemy.  Upon  the  character  of  this  enemy  a  few  words  may 
be  proper  in  this  place. 

During  the  long  struggle  between  the  French  and  English 
for  the  ascendancy  in  the  Mississippi  valley,  the  Indians  had 
been  anxiously  courted  by  both  powers.  While  they  were 
supplied  with  European  arms,  and  partially  instructed  in  mili 
tary  science  by  European  officers,  no  effort  appears  to  have 
been  made  to  soften  their  ferocity,  or  to  mitigate  the  barbarous 
customs  which  regarded  war  less  as  an  act  of  national  policy, 
than  an  opportunity  of  indulging  all  the  worst  of  individual 
passions.  If  lack  of  discipline  in  their  armies  made  them,  less 
formidable  to  an  equal  number  of  our  own  troops,  their  savage 
disregard  of  the  rights  of  prisoners,  made  them  terrible  to  an 
inferior  force.  At  the  time  that  Captain  Taylor  was  first 
brought  into  conflict  with  the  tribes  in  the  region  of  Fort  Har 
rison,  they  had  been  particularly  prepared  for  daring  adven 
tures  by  the  encouragement  of  two  chiefs,  whose  talents  would 
have  honoured  far  nobler  followers.  These  were  Tecumseh, 
and  his  brother  Olliwachica, — better  known  as  the  Prophet. 
For  several  years  it  had  been  the  policy  and  ambition  of  these 
men  to  inflame  the  Indians  of  the  North-western  Territory 
with  fresh  animosity  against  their  white  neighbours.  Both 
leaders  added  to  the  qualities  of  courage,  fortitude,  and  perse 
verance,  consummate  knowledge  of  the  arts  by  which  the 
savage  mind  is  controlled ;  and  they  succeeded  in  inspiring 
their  inferiors  with  a  religious  abhorrence  of  the  whites,  more 
effectual  for  their  ends,  than  the  national  jealousy  excited  by 
the  encroachments  of  the  latter  upon  their  ancient  hunting- 
grounds.  At  no  previous  period,  therefore,  was  the  spirit  of 
the  Indians  so  fully  aroused  to  the  duty — such  it  was  in  their  view 
— of  exterminating  our  people,  as  when  they  resolved  to  attack 
Fort  Harrison. 

Three  months  after  war  with  England  had  been  formally 
declared,  they  were  banded  for  this  purpose.  Captain  Taylor 
had  some  intimations  of  it,  which  were  confirmed  on  the  3d 
of  September,  by  the  report  of  guns  in  the  vicinity  of  the  fort, 
where  two  young  men  were  at  work  in  the  fields.  On  the 


20  NIGHT    ATTACK    BY    INDIANS. 

4th  their  bodies  were  discovered  by  a  party  sent  out  in  search 
of  them, — the  scalped  heads  bearing  too  apparent  proof  of  In 
dian  hands.  This  incident  added  to  the  vigilance  of  Captain 
Taylor,  and  he  made  every  effort  for  defence  compatible  with 
his  limited  means.  The  whole  force  under  his  command 
was  about  fifty  men,  of  whom  about  two-thirds  were  invalids. 
He  himself  was  just  recovering  from  a  fever.  The  Indians 
were  aware  of  his  weakness,  but  still  preferred  the  exercise,  in 
some  degree,  of  their  native  cunning,  to  the  hazard  of  an  open 
attack.  For  this  purpose  a  deputation  of  the  Prophet's  party 
came  to  the  fort  on  the  evening  of  the  4th,  bearing  a  white 
flag,  and  affecting  peaceable  intentions.  Captain  Taylor  was 
not  deceived  by  this  attempt  to  lessen  his  caution.  He  in 
spected  the  arms  of  the  men,  served  out  16  rounds  of  car 
tridges  to  each,  and  made  other  dispositions  of  his  meagre  re 
sources  to  guard  against  surprise  and  sustain  an  assault.  His 
force  was  so  small  that  a  sufficient  number  of  sentinels  could 
not  be  posted  to  protect  the  whole  extent  of  the  outworks,  but 
the  officer  of  the  guard  was  ordered  to  make  the  tour  of  the 
inside  through  the  night. 

With  these  precautions  the  commander,  and  that  portion  of 
his  little  band  not  on  the  watch,  retired  to  rest.  But  an  hour 
before  midnight  they  were  aroused  by  the  report  of  a  musket. 
Taylor  sprang  up  from  his  brief  sleep,  and  found  his  savage 
enemies  upon  him.  On  their  approach,  the  sentinels  had  pre 
cipitately  retired  within  the  house,  and  it  was  discovered  that 
the  lower  building  was  already  fired  by  the  Indians.  The  sit 
uation  of  the  garrison  was  now  one  of  extreme  peril,  the  alter 
native  of  death  by  fire  or  savage  arms  appearing  imminent. 
The  young  captain,  however,  maintained  his  composure,  and 
while  he  directed  one  party  to  carry  buckets  of  water  to  extin 
guish  the  flames,  encouraged  another  in  their  efforts  to  repel  the 
assailants.  It  chanced  that  the  fire  was  first  communicated  to 
the  store-room,  which  contained  a  quantity  of  whiskey.  This 
was  soon  in  a  blaze,  which  reached  the  roof  and  defied  every 
effort  to  suppress  it.  Meanwhile  a  host  of  savages,  who,  under 
cover  of  a  very  dark  night,  had  previously  approached  close 


THE    INDIANS    REPULSED.  21 

to  the  house,  maintained  the  attack,  yelling  furiously  in  antici 
pation  of  their  triumph,  which  it  seemed  almost  impossible  to 
avert.  But  Taylor,  not  despairing  even  in  this  emergency, 
ordered  the  roofs  of  a  portion  of  the  buildings  to  be  torn  off, 
and  by  keeping  that  which  remained  continually  wet,  suc 
ceeded  in  restricting  the  fire  to  the  apartments  where  it 
originated. 

Animated  by  their  leader,  the  men,  who  at  first  shrank  from 
the  unequal  contest,  kept  up  a  steady  discharge  of  musketry 
upon  the  assailants,  who,  during  seven  hours,  abated  no  effort 
to  carry  the  fort.  In  this  protracted  attack,  only  three  of  the 
garrison  were  killed  and  three  wounded,  while  it  was  apparent 
that  the  Indians  suffered  severely  from  their  exposed  position. 
At  six  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  5th,  dispirited  by  their 
loss,  and  abandoning  the  hope  of  wearying  resistance  at  once 
so  resolute  and  effective,  they  retired  from  the  spot,  after  de 
stroying  all  the  provisions  of  the  post,  and  killing  or  driving 
off  the  horses  and  cattle. 

The  account  of  this  affair,  given  to  General  Harrison,  in  a 
letter  dated  the  10th  of  September,  1812,  being  the  first 
despatch  from  Taylor's  pen,  is  appropriately  inserted  in  this 
place.  It  has  the  unaffected  spirit,  if  not  the  severe  style, 
of  his  more  mature  productions.  The  following  is  an 
extract : — 

"  On  Thursday  evening,  3d  instant,  after  retreat  beating, 
four  guns  were  heard  to  fire  in  the  direction  wrhere  two  young 
men,  (citizens  who  resided  here,)  were  making  hay,  about  four 
hundred  yards  distant  from  the  fort.  I  was  immediately  im 
pressed  with  an  idea  that  they  were  killed  by  the  Indians,  as 
the  Miamies  or  Weas  had  that  day  informed  me  that  the  Pro 
phet's  party  would  soon  be  here  for  the  purpose  of  commencing 
hostilities ;  and  that  they  had  been  directed  to  leave  this  place, 
which  they  were  about  to  do.  I  did  not  think  it  prudent  to 
send  out  at  that  late  hour  of  the  night,  to  see  what  had  become 
of  them,  and  their  not  coming  convinced  me  that  I  was  right 
in  my  conjecture.  I  waited  until  eight  o'clock  next  morning, 
when  I  sent  out  a  corporal  with  a  small  party  to  find  them,  if 


22      CART.  TAYLOR'S   FIRST  DESPATCH. 

it  could  be  done  without  running  too  much  risk  of  being  drawn 
into  an  ambuscade.  He  soon  sent  back  to  inform  me,  that  he 
had  found  them  both  killed,  and  wished  to  know  my  further 
orders  :  I  sent  the  cart  and  oxen,  had  them  brought  in  and 
buried.  They  had  been  shot  with  two  balls,  scalped,  and  cut 
in  the  most  shocking  manner.  Late  in  the  evening  of  the  4th 
instant,  old  Joseph  Lenar,  and  between  thirty  and  forty  In 
dians,  arrived  from  the  Prophet's  town,  with  a  white  flag  ; 
among  whom  were  about  ten  women,  and  the  men  were  com 
posed  of  chiefs  of  the  different  tribes  that  compose  the  Pro 
phet's  party. 

"  A  Shawnee  man  that  spoke  good  English,  informed  me 
that  old  Lenar  intended  to  speak  to  me  next  morning,  and  try 
to  get  something  to  eat.  After  retreat  beating,  I  examined 
the  men's  arms,  and  found  them  all  in  good  order,  and  com 
pleted  their  cartridges  to  sixteen  rounds  per  man.  As  I  had 
not  been  able  to  mount  a  guard  of  more  than  six  privates,  and 
two  non-commissioned  officers  for  some  time  past,  and  some 
times  part  of  them  every  other  day,  from  the  unhealthiness  of 
the  company,  I  had  not  conceived  my  force  adequate  to  the 
defence  of  this  post,  should  it  be  vigorously  attacked,  for 
some  time  past.  As  I  had  just  recovered  from  a  very  severe 
attack  of  the  fever,  I  was  not  able  to  be  up  much  through  the 
night. 

"  After  tattoo,  I  cautioned  the  guard  to  be  vigilant,  and 
ordered  one  of  the  non-commissioned  officers,  as  the  sentinel 
could  not  see  every  part  of  the  garrison,  to  walk  around  on 
the  inside  during  the  night,  to  prevent  the  Indians  taking  any 
advantage  of  us,  provided  they  had  any  intention  of  attacking 
us.  About  eleven  o'clock,  I  was  awakened  by  the  firing  of 
one  of  the  sentinels  ;  I  sprung  up,  ran  out,  and  ordered  the 
men  to  their  posts,  when  my  orderly  sergeant  (who  had  charge 
of  the  upper  block-house)  called  out  that  the  Indians  had  fired 
the  lower  block-house,  which  contained  the  property  of  the 
contractors,  which  was  deposited  in  the  lower  part,  (the  upper 
part  having  been  assigned  to  a  corporal  and  ten  privates  as  an 
alarm  post.)  The  guns  had  begun  to  fire  pretty  smartly  from 


THEFORTONFIRE.  23 

both  sides.  I  directed  the  buckets  to  be  got  ready,  and  water 
brought  from  the  well,  and  the  fire  extinguished  immediately, 
as  it  was  perceivable  at  that  time  ;  but  from  debility,  or  some 
other  cause,  the  men  were  very  slow  in  executing  my  orders ; 
the  word  fire,  appeared  to  throw  the  whole  of  them  into  con 
fusion  ;  and  by  the  time  they  had  got  the  water,  and  broken 
open  the  door,  the  fire  had  unfortunately  communicated  to  a 
quantity  of  whiskey,  (the  stock  having  licked  several  holes 

*  thro ugh  the  lower  part  of  the  building,  after  the  salt  that  was 
stored  there,  through  which  they  had  introduced  the  fire, 
without  being  discovered,  as  the  night  was  very  dark,)  and  in 
spite  of  every  exertion  we  could  make  use  of,  in  less  than  a 
minute  it  ascended  to  the  roof,  and  baffled  every  effort  we 
could  make  to  extinguish  it. 

"  As  that  block-house  adjoined  the  barracks  that  made  part 
of  the  fortifications,  most  of  the  men  immediately  gave  them 
selves  up  for  lost,  and  I  had  the  greatest  difficulty  in  getting 
my  orders  executed  ;  and,  sir — what  from  the  raging  of  the 
fire — the  yelling  and  howling  of  several  hundred  Indians — the 
cries  of  nine  women  and  children  (a  part  soldiers'  and  a  part 
citizens'  wives,  who  had  taken  shelter  in  the  fort) — and  a  de 
sponding  of  so  many  of  the  men,  which  was  worse  than  all — I 
can  assure  you  that  my  feelings  were  very  unpleasant ;  and, 
indeed,  there  were  not  more  than  ten  or  fifteen  men  able  to  do 
anything  at  all,  the  others  being  sick  or  convalescent ;  and  to 
add  to  our  other  misfortunes,  two  of  our  stoutest  men  jumped 
the  pickets  and  left.  But  my  presence  of  mind  did  not  for  a 
moment  forsake  me.  I  saw  by  throwing  off  part  of  the  roof 
that  joined  the  block-house  that  was  on  fire,  and  keeping  the 
end  perfectly  wet,  the  whole  row  of  buildings  might  be  saved, 
and  leave  only  an  entrance  of  eighteen  or  twenty  feet  for  the 
Indians  to  enter,  after  the  house  was  consumed ;  and  that  a 
temporary  breast-work  might  be  formed  to  prevent  their  enter 
ing  even  there.  I  convinced  the  men  that  this  could  be  ac 
complished,  and  it  appeared  to  inspire  them  with  new  life ;  and 
never  did  men  act  with  more  firmness  or  desperation.  Those 


24  THE    INDIANS    BAFFLED. 

that  were  able  (while  others  kept  up  a  constant  fire  from  the  up 
per  block-house  and  the  two  bastions)  mounted  the  roofs  of  the 
houses,  with  Doctor  Clark  at  their  head,  (who  acted  with  the 
greatest  firmness  and  presence  of  mind,  the  whole  time  the  attack 
lasted,  which  was  seven  hours,)  under  a  shower  of  bullets,  and 
in  less  than  a  moment  threw  off  as  much  of  the  roof  as  was  ne 
cessary.  This  was  done,  with  one  man  killed,  and  two 
wounded,  and  I  am  in  hopes  neither  of  them  dangerously. 
The  man  that  was  killed  was  a  little  deranged,  and  did  not 
get  off  of  the  house  as  soon  as  directed,  or  he  would  not  have 
been  hurt ;  and  although  the  barracks  were  several  times  in  a 
blaze,  and  an  immense  quantity  of  fire  against  them,  the  men 
used  such  exertion,  that  they  kept  it  under  ;  and,  before  day, 
raised  a  temporary  breast-work  as  high  as  a  man's  head. 
Although  the  Indians  continued  to  pour  in  a  heavy  fire  of  ball, 
and  an  innumerable  quantity  of  arrows,  during  the  whole  time 
the  attack  lasted,  in  every  part  of  the  parade,  I  had  but  one 
other  man  killed — nor  any  other  wounded  inside  the  fort — and 
he  lost  his  life  by  being  too  anxious  ;  he  got  into  one  of  the 
gallies  in  the  bastions,  and  fired  over  the  pickets,  and  called 
out  to  his  comrades  that  he  had  killed  an  Indian,  and  neglect 
ing  to  stoop  down  in  an  instant,  he  was  shot. 

"  One  of  the  men  that  jumped  the  pickets,  returned  an  hour 
before  day,  and  running  up  towards  the  gate,  begged  for 
God's  sake  for  it  to  be  opened.  I  suspected  it  to  be  a  strata 
gem  of  the  Indians  to  get  in,  as  I  did  not  recollect  the  voice ; 
I  directed  the  men  in  the  bastion  where  I  happened  to  be  to 
shoot  him,  let  him  be  who  he  would,  and  one  of  them  fired  at 
him,  but  fortunately  he  ran  up  the  other  bastion,  where  they 
knew  his  voice,  and  Doctor  Clark  directed  him  to  lie  close  to 
the  pickets,  behind  an  empty  barrel  that  happened  to  be  there, 
and  at  daylight  I  had  him  let  in.  His  arm  was  broken  in  a 
most  shocking  manner,  which  he  says  was  done  by  the  In 
dians,  which  I  suppose  was  the  cause  of  his  returning.  I  think 
it  probable  that  he  will  not  recover.  The  other  they  caught 
about  one  hundred  and  thirty  yards  from  the  garrison,  and 


* 


. 

THE    FORT    SAVED.  25 

cut  him  all  to  pieces.  After  keeping  up  a  constant  fire  until 
about  six  o'clock  the  next  morning,  which  we  began  to  return 
with  some  effect,  after  daylight  they  removed  out  of  reach  of 
our  guns.  A  party  of  them  drove  up  the  horses  that  belonged 
to  the  citizens  here,  and  as  they  could  not  catch  them  very 
readily,  shot  the  whole  of  them  in  our  sight,  as  well  as  a  num 
ber  of  their  hogs.  They  drove  off  the  whole  of  the  cattle, 
which  amounted  to  sixty-five  head,  as  well  as  the  public  oxen. 

I  had  the  vacancy  filled  up  before  night  (which  was  made 
by  the  burning  of  the  block-house)  with  a  strong  row  of 
pickets,  which  I  got  by  pulling  down  the  guard-house.  We 
lost  the  whole  of  our  provisions,  but  must  make  out  to  live 
upon  green  corn,  until  we  can  get  a  supply,  which  I  am  in 
hopes  will  not  be  long.  I  believe  the  whole  of  the  Miamies 
or  Weas  were  among  the  Prophet's  party,  as  one  chief  gave 
his  orders  in  that  language,  which  resembled  Stone  Eater's 
voice,  and  I  believe  Negro  Legs  was  there  likewise.  A 
Frenchman  here  understands  their  different  languages;  and 
several  of  the  Miamies  or  Weas  that  have  been  frequently 
here  were  recognised  by  the  Frenchman  and  soldiers  next 
morning. 

"  The  Indians  suffered  smartly,  but,  were  so  numerous  as  to 
take  off  all  that  were  shot.  They  continued  with  us  until  the 
next  morning,  but  made  no  further  attempt  on  the  fort,  nor 
have  we  seen  anything  more  of  them  since.  I  have  delayed 
informing  you  of  my  situation,  as  I  did  not  like  to  wreaken  the 
garrison,  and  I  looked  for  some  person  from  Vincennes,  and 
none  of  my  men  were  acquainted  with  the  woods,  and  there 
fore  I  would  either  have  to  take  the  road  or  river,  which  I  was 
fearful  was  guarded  by  small  parties  of  Indians,  who  would 
not  dare  attack  a  company  of  rangers,  that  wras  on  a  scout. 
But  being  disappointed,  I  have  at  length  determined  to  send  a 
couple  of  my  men  by  water,  and  am  in  hopes  they  will  arrive 
safe.  I  think  it  would  be  best  to  send  the  provisions  under  a 
pretty  strong  escort,  as  the  Indians  may  attempt  to  prevent 
their  coming.  If  you  carry  on  an  expedition  against  the  Pro 
phet  this  fall,  you  ought  to  be  well  provided  with  everything, 
3 


26  HONOR    OF    THE    DEFENCE. 

as  you  may  calculate  on  having  every  inch  of  ground  disputed, 
that  they  can  defend  with  advantage." 

Such  is  the  modest  account  which  Taylor  gave  of  an 
achievement,  which,  however  insignificant  compared  with  the 
operations  of  large  armies,  required  the  highest  degree  of  phy 
sical  courage,  and  the  heroic  firmness  which  imparts  its  quality 
to  other  spirits.  In  the  open  plain  and  in  the  broad  sunlight, 
— in  the  grand  movements  of  thousands  of  serried  troops,  and 
the  steady  glitter  of  their  arms — in  the  cheering  peal  of  trum 
pet  and  drum,  and  the  waving  of  bright  banners  —  in  all  this 
there  is  something  to  awaken  courage  in  the  most  sluggish 
heart,  and  to  prove  at  once  to  the  warrior  the  honour  of  tri 
umph,  of  wounds  or  of  death,  in  a  cause  which  brings  hosts 
into  conflict.  But  far  stronger  is  the  nerve,  far  sterner  the 
purpose,  which  while  the  howl  of  infuriate  barbarians  arouses 
the  midnight  sleeper,  can  sustain  him  in  the  terrible  moment 
when  the  flames,  raging  around  his  shelter,  threaten  to  drive 
him  into  the  less  fortunate  embrace  of  his  merciless  enemies. 
It  was  in  such  a  scene  as  this,  his  first  experience  in  warfare, 
that  Taylor  evinced  the  calmness,  the  energy,  the  hope  against 
mighty  odds,  which  in  a  later  and  larger  field  of  action  inspired 
one  of  his  followers  to  exclaim,  as  if  he  were  uttering  a  moral 
axiom,  "Taylor  never  surrenders!"  At  Fort  Harrison,  four 
hundred  savages  fell  suddenly  upon  his  petty  band,  less  than  a 
twentieth  their  number,  and  after  a  fierce  affray  of  seven  hours, 
left  the  field  discomfite'd.  With  such  a  beginning  of  his  glo 
rious  career,  should  the  sequel  of  Buena  Vista  be  regarded 
with  surprise  ? 

The  failure  of  their  enterprise  against  Fort  Harrison  morti 
fied  and  disheartened  the  Indians,  and  they  abandoned  for  the 
time  any  further  attempts  against  it.  The  garrison,  however, 
was  ignorant  of  their  feelings  or  intentions,  and  as  a  renewal 
of  the  attack  was  reasonably  apprehended,  its  vigilance  was 
not  abated.  The  despatch  cited  above  was  entrusted  to  two 
men,  who  attempted  to  descend  the  river  to  Vincennes,  out 
the  Indians  being  on  the  alert,  and  keeping  up  fires  on  the 
banks  through  the  night,  obliged  the  bearers  to  return.  In 

• 


y 

^ — --/ 


THE    GARRISON    RELIEVED.  27 

this  emergency,  Captain  Taylor  again  addressed  Governor 
Harrison,  and  sent  his  messengers  by  land.  These  were  suc 
cessful.  The  letter  was  in  these  terms : 

"  I  wrote  you  on  the  10th  instant,  giving  you  an  account 
of  the  attack  on  this  place,  as  well  as  my  situation,  which  ac 
count  I  attempted  to  send  by  water,  but  the  two  men  whom  I 
despatched  in  a  canoe  after  night,  found  the  river  so  well 
guarded,  that  they  were  obliged  to  return.  The  Indians  had 
built  a  fire  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  a  short  distance  below  the 
garrison,  which  gave  them  an  opportunity  of  seeing  any  craft 
that  might  attempt  to  pass,  and  were  waiting  with  a  canoe 
ready  to  intercept  it.  I  expect  the  fort,  as  well  as  the  road  to 
Vincennes,  is  as  well  or  better  watched  than  the  river.  But 
my  situation  compels  me  to  make  one  other  attempt  by  land, 
and  my  orderly  sergeant,  with  one  other  man,  sets  out  to-night, 
with  strict  orders  to  avoid  the  road  in  the  daytime,  and  depend 
entirely  on  the  woods,  although  neither  of  them  has  ever  been 
to  Vincennes  by  land,  nor  do  they  know  anything  of  the  coun 
try  ;  but  I  am  in  hopes  they  will  reach  you  in  safety.  I  send 
them  with  great  reluctance  from  their  ignorance  of  the  woods. 
I  think  it  very  probable  there  is  a  large  party  of  Indians  way 
laying  the  road  between  this  and  Vincennes,  likely  about  the 
Narrows,  for  the  purpose  of  intercepting  any  party  that  may  be 
coming  to  this  place,  as  the  cattle  they  got  here  will  supply 
them  plentifully  with  provisions  for  some  time  to  come." 

Immediately  on  the  receipt  of  this  communication,  a  large 
force,  under  the  command  of  General  Hopkins,  was  sent  to 
the  relief  of  the  garrison,  then  reduced  to  the  extremest  need, 
by  sickness,  fatigue,  and  the  loss  of  provisions. 

The  conduct  of  Taylor  at  Fort  Harrison  was  not  overlooked 
by  his  superior  officers,  by  the  public,  or  by  the  government. 
General  Hopkins,  in  a  letter  to  the  Governor  of  Kentucky,  said 
of  him: — "The  firm  and  almost  unparalleled  defence  of  Fort 
Harrison  by  Captain  Zachary  Taylor,  has  raised  for  him  a 
fabric  of  character  not  to  be  effaced  by  eulogy."  The  singu 
lar  force  and  refinement  of  this  commendation  are  as  honour 
able  to  the  writer  as  to  the  subject  of  it.  An  ardent  response 


28  TAYLOR'S  HONOURS  AND  PROMOTION. 

to  the  sentiment  was  given  by  the  whole  country,  and  the  Pre 
sident  afforded  a  more  satisfactory  proof  of  its  justice,  by  con 
ferring  upon  Taylor  the  rank  of  Major  by  brevet — the  oldest 
instance  in  the  service  of  this  species  of  promotion. 

Pending  the  arrival  of  Hopkins'  command  at  Fort  Harrison, 
the  Indians  continued  their  depredations  upon  the  peaceful 
inhabitants  of  the  neighbourhood,  destroying  their  houses  and 
farms,  and  carrying  on  the  war  in  their  usual  relentless  mode, 
irrespective  of  age  or  sex  in  the  objects  of  their  attacks.  De 
cisive  measures  were  necessary  to  arrest  these  atrocities,  and 
an  expedition  was  accordingly  planned  by  General  Hopkins 
against  the  Indian  villages  in  the  Peoria  country.  The  march 
commenced  in  the  middle  of  October,  but  was  suddenly  ended 
by  the  insubordination  of  the  volunteers  composing  the  force. 
This  spirit  was  partially  manifest  on  the  fourth  day,  but  on  the 
fifth  it  was  beyond  control.  The  Indians  had  set  fire  to  the 
prairie-grass,  and  a  violent  wind  drove  the  flames  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  camp,  which  was  saved  with  difficulty. 
»  Discontent  ripened  from  this  cause  into  alarm.  At  a  coun. 
cil  of  officers,  convened  by  General  Hopkins,  he  offered  to  pro 
ceed  on  the  expedition,  if  followed  by  only  five  hundred  men. 
But  the  voices  of  all  the  volunteers  were  against  him,  and  their 
steps  were  accordingly  retraced.  The  enterprise,  however, 
was  not  altogether  fruitless.  The  Indians,  alarmed  by  the  ap 
proach  of  so  large  a  force,  collected  their  warriors  to  oppose 
it,  leaving  their  villages  unprotected.  In  this  condition,  they 
were  attacked  by  a  detachment  under  Colonel  Russell,  and 
destroyed.  In  the  following  month,  General  Hopkins  under 
took  a  second  expedition,  directed  against  the  Prophet's  and 
Winnebago  Town,  in  which  Major  Taylor  took  part,  and  re 
ceived  the  official  commendations  of  the  general.  Several 
skirmishes  occurred,  in  some  of  which  our  troops  suffered  se 
verely.  They  succeeded  in  achieving  their  main  objects,  de 
vastating  the  enemy's  country,  and  destroying  their  settlements. 
The  winter  forced  both  parties  into  a  cessation  of  active  hos 
tilities.  From  this  time,  to  the  close  of  the  war  with  Great 
Britain,  Major  Taylor  was  engaged  in  the  same  vicinity,  ac- 


f     '  •%; 

INJUSTICE    TO    TAYLOR.  29 

complishing  the  purposes  of  the  government  with  unremitting 
vigilance.  No  further  opportunity  occurred  of  signalizing  his 
special  talents ;  but  he  earned  with  others  the  distinction  of 
reducing  the  Indians,  for  the  time,  to  terms  of  peace,  and  of 
establishing  among  the  white  settlers  security  from  their 
incursions. 

•'£•'         ^v 


CHAPTER  II. 

Injustice  to  Army  Officers — Taylor's  Resignation  and  Reinstatement — Various 
Services  from  1816  to  1832  —  Anecdote  of  his  Habits  —  Promoted  to  a 
Colonelcy — Black  Hawk  War — Battle  of  Bad-Axe — Gen.  Atkinson's  De 
spatch — Anecdote  of  Taylor — Services  until  1836. 

THE  restoration  of  peace  was  made  the  occasion  by  govern 
ment  of  signal  injustice  to  many  officers  of  the  army.  Promo 
tions  earned  by  good  service  during  the  war  were  nullified 
when  its  exigencies  ceased.  Among  the  victims  of  this  policy 
was  Major  Taylor, — certainly  one  of  the  last  who  should  have 
been  selected  for  a  blow  so  unworthy.  He  was  reduced  to 
the  rank  of  captain,  and  deprived  alike  of  the  reward  and  the 
honour  earned  by  extraordinary  talent  and  devotion  to  duty. 
Although  his  modesty — so  well  illustrated  in  later  years  — 
would  at  any  time  have  shrunk  from  claiming  preferment,  yet 
his  self-respect  forbade  submission  to  an  indignity,  implying 
the  absence  of  common  desert.  With  this  feeling  he  resolved 
to  quit  a  service,  in  which  fidelity  seemed  to  be  regarded  only 
in  emergencies,  and  forgotten  when  no  longer  required.  He 
accordingly  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  the  more 
grateful  care  of  his  family.  His  friends,  however,  were  not 
content  to  witness  calmly  either  his  resignation  or  the  cause 
of  it,  and  their  influence  was  powerfully  exercised  with  the 
administration  in  his  behalf.  The  result  was  that  in  the  course 
of  a  year  he  was  reinstated  by  President  Madison,  and  con- 


30  RESTORED    TO    HIS    RANK. 

sented  again  to  leave  his  home  and  its  interests  for  the  labours 
of  a  profession,  the  dangers  of  which  in  war  are  preferable  to 
its  monotony  in  peace. 

In  1816,  immediately  after  his  restoration  to  his  former  rank, 
Major  Taylor  was  ordered  to  Green  Bay,  and  remained  in 
command  of  that  post  for  two  years.  Returning  to  Kentucky, 
he  passed  a  year  with  his  family,  and  was  then  ordered  to  join 
Colonel  Russell  at  New  Orleans.  Except  during  a  temporary 
absence,  when  recalled  by  the  illness  of  his  wife,  he  continued 
in  the  south  for  several  years,  generally  engaged  in  some  ac 
tive  duty.  One  of  his  labours  was  the  opening  of  a  military 
road,  and  another  the  erection  of  Fort  Jesup  —  the  latter  in 
1822.  In  1824  he  was  engaged  in  Louisville  in  the  recruiting 
service,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  that  year  wras  ordered  to 
Washington,  He  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  board  for 
the  planning  and  erection  of  Jefferson  Barracks.  On  the  20th 
of  April,  1819,  Taylor  received  the  commission  of  a  Lieute 
nant  Colonel.  The  following  year  he  again  returned  to  the 
south,  but  was  recalled  in  1826,  to  sit  as  a  member  of  a  board 
of  officers  of  the  Army  and  of  the  Militia,  convened  by  Secre 
tary  Barbour,  to  consider  and  propose  a  system  for  the  organi 
zation  and  improvement  of  the  militia  of  the  United  States. 
General  Scott  was  president  of  this  commission.  The  other 
members,  besides  Lieutenant  Colonel  Taylor,  were  Brigadier 
General  Eustis,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Cutler,  Major  Nourse  of 
the  Army,  and  Major  General  Cadwalader,  Adjutant  General 
Damil,  and  Adjutant  General  Sumner  of  the  Militia.  To  the 
last-mentioned  gentleman  the  writer  is  indebted  for  an  account 
of  the  proceedings  of  this  board, 

Its  discussions  were  long  and  earnest,  but  a  report  was 
finally  agreed  upon,  embracing  several  important  provisions. 
It  is  unnecessary  to  introduce  here  an  abstract  of  this  docu- 
ment,  but  it  is  proper  to  state  that  Taylor  —  then  Lieutenant 
Colonel  —  was  strenuous  in  maintaining  the  militia  strictly  as 
citizen  soldiery,  in  opposition  to  the  views  of  some  older 
officers  in  the  board,  who  would  have  invested  this  body  with 


HIS    SEVERE    DISCIPLINE.  31 

more  of  the  character  of  a  regular  army.  The  report,  having 
been  drawn  by  General  Scott,  was  adopted  on  motion  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Taylor,  and  was  approved  in  Congress. 
Owing,  however,  to  want  of  proper  attention,  a  bill  based 
upon  it  was  suffered  to  slumber  for  some  time  in  Committee 
on  the  Militia,  and  was  finally  forgotten. 

The  duties  of  Taylor  were  subsequently  resumed  upon  the 
north-western  frontier,  a  field  on  which,  soon  afterwards,  he 
again  met  an  Indian  enemy  and  sustained  the  reputation  won 
in  his  first  contest  with  him.  Five  years  of  peace,  however, 
preceded  this  occasion, — years  not  idly  spent  by  the  man  who 
seemed  unconsciously  preparing  himself  in  every  department 
of  his  profession  for  the  splendid  achievements  of  his  later 
days.  A  writer  in  the  Literary  World  thus  mentions  him :  "  As 
plain  Lieut.  Colonel  Taylor  I  have  often  seen  him  putting  his 
men  through  the  battalion  drill  on  the  northern  banks  of  the 
Wisconsin,  in  the  depth  of  February.  This  would  seem  only 
characteristic  of  the  man  who  has  since  proved  himself  equally 
"  Rough  and  Ready"  under  the  scorching  sun  of  the  tropics. 
But,  looking  back  through  long  years  to  many  a  pleasant  hour 
spent  in  the  well-selected  library  of  the  post  which  Colonel 
Taylor  then  commanded,  we  recur  now  with  singular  interest 
to  the  agreeable,  conversations  held  in  the  room  which  was  the 
Colonel's  favourite  resort,  amid  the  intervals  of  duty."  And 
the  same  chronicler  of  his  severe  habits  of  discipline  and  study 
continues  :  "  Nor  will  the  reader  think  these  personal  reminis 
cences  impertinent,  when  we  add  that  our  object  in  recurring 
to  them  here  is  simply  to  mention  that,  remembering  alike  the 
wintry  drill  and  the  snug  book-room,  Taylor's  hardihood — the 
idea  of  which  now  so  readily  attaches  to  his  sobriquet  of 
Rough  and  Ready  —  would  certainly  not  then  have  struck  a 
stranger  as  more  characteristic  than  his  liberal-minded  intelli 
gence." 

In  1832  Taylor  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Colonel. 
During  the  previous  year,  the  difficulties  between  the  white 
settlers  near  Rock  River,  and  the  Sac  Indians  under  the  cele 
brated  chief  Black  Hawk,  had.  been  fomented  by  bad  and 


32  THE    BLACK    HAWK    WAR. 

interested  men  to  a  point  of  open  hostilities.  It  must  be 
equally  as  painful  to  any  American  historian,  as  it  would  be 
unnecessary  for  the  author  of  this  biography,  to  recite  the 
events  which  brought  about  the  contest  known  as  "  the  Black 
Hawk  war."  If,  in  former  periods  and  in  other  places,  the 
implacable  aversion  of  the  Indians  to  the  peaceful  encroach 
ments  of  our  people,  induced  the  latter  to  resort  to  arms  and 
the  work  of  destruction  as  acts  of  simple  self-defence,  the 
same  reason  cannot  be  asserted  for  the  war  against  Black 
Hawk  and  his  unfortunate  tribe.  Once  commenced,  however, 
the  security  of  all  parties  demanded  its  termination  by  the 
most  vigorous  measures. 

Black  Hawk,  whose  flags  of  truce  had  been  on  two  different 
occasions  fired  upon,  and  the  bearers  killed,  defeated  on  the 
14th  of  May,  1832,  near  Rock  River,  a  large  number  of 
mounted  volunteers,  who  fled  precipitately  before  a  small  band 
of  the  brave  chief.  The  force  of  the  latter  was  vastly  exag 
gerated  by  the  fears  of  the  routed  troops,  and  alarm  spread 
through  the  state  of  Illinois.  General  Atkinson,  then  com 
manding  in  the  north-west,  had  his  head-quarters  at  Dixon's 
Ferry,  which  he  immediately  proceeded  to  fortify.  The 
governor  of  Illinois  at  the  same  time  called  out  a  fresh  body 
of  mounted  volunteers,  and  the  secretary  of  war  ordered  about 
one  thousand  regulars  to  the  scene  of  action.  General  Scott 
then  took  the  command  of  the  army,  and  conducted  the  cam 
paign.  For  three  months  a  contest  characterized  by  the  worst 
acts  of  border  ferocity  was  maintained.  The  Indians  mur 
dered  many  frontier  families,  and  committed  bold  depredations 
in  the  face  of  our  troops.  In  their  turn  they  suffered  in  several 
skirmishes,  but  not  to  the  extent  of  disheartening  them.  A 
party  under  Black  Hawk  attacked  the  fort  at  Buffalo  Grove, 
and  although  they  failed  in  carrying  it,  yet  they  killed  several 
men,  and  afterwards  defeated  a  detachment  of  volunteers  who 
came  to  its  rescue. 

General  Atkinson  arrived  on  the  fourth  of  July  with  an  army 
of  twenty-five  hundred  men,  including  four  hundred  regulars 
under  Col.  Taylor,  at  Lake  Coshconing,  in  the  neighbourhood 


BATTLE    OF    THE    BAD    AXE.  33 

of  which  the  Indians  had  collected.  .  The  latter  were  reduced, 
at  the  time,  to  the  greatest  extremity  for  want  of  provisions, 
their  fighting  men  being  encumbered  with  women  and  children 
and  their  moveable  property,  as  they  had  fled  from  their  villages 
with  no  means  of  immediate  subsistence.  From  Lake  Cosh- 
coning,  an  extension  of  Rock  River,  they  were  pursued  to 
wards  Fort  Winnebago  by  two  brigades  of  mounted  volunteers, 
under  General  Dodge,  and  overtaken  on  the  banks  of  the 
Wisconsin.  In  this  flight  they  suffered  dreadfully  from  fatigue, 
famine  and  slaughter. 

Late  in  July,  General  Atkinson  crossed  the  Wisconsin  River 
and  ordered  the  pursuit  of  the  Indians.  For  this  service 
thirteen  hundred  men,  among  whom  were  Taylor's  regulars, 
were  selected.  They  set  forth  immediately.  The  way  was 
through  a  primitive  wilderness,  before  untrodden  by  any  body 
of  white  men.  With  forced  speed  the  march  was  pressed 
over  rocks  and  mountains,  through  woods  and  waters,  often 
almost  impassable  for  horses,  and  continually  exhausting  to  the 
men.  At  last  the  enemy  was  overtaken  on  the  Bad  Axe,  near 
the  junction  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  Iowa.  A  battle,  des 
perate  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  ensued,  in  which  they  were 
wholly  routed,  many  falling  by  our  arms,  others  perishing  in 
the  river,  and  the  rest  dispersing  or  submitting  themselves 
prisoners.  The  chief,  Black  Hawk,  who  then  escaped,  was  in 
the  course  of  the  month  surrendered  by  some  of  his  faithless 
allies,  and  with  his  capture  ended  the  war.  The  following  is 
General  Atkinson's  official  account  of  the  battle. 

"  Head  Quarters,  First  Artillery  Corps,  North-western  Army. 
«  Prairie  des  Chiens,  Augt.  25,  1832. 

"  SIR  :  I  have  the  honour  to  report  to  you  that  I  crossed  the 
Ouisconsin  on  the  27th  and  28th  ultimo,  with  a  select  body  of 
troops,  consisting  of  the  regulars  under  Col.  Taylor,  four 
hundred  in  number,  part  of  Henry's,  Posey's  and  Alexander's 
brigades,  amounting  in  all  to  1300  men,  and  immediately  fell 
upon  the  trail  of  the  enemy,  and  pursued  it  by  a  forced  march, 
through  a  mountainous  and  difficult  country,  till  the  morning 


34        GENERAL    ATKINSON'S    DESPATCH. 


- 


of  the  2d  inst.,  when  we  came  up  with  his  main  body  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  nearly  opposite  the  mouth  of  the 
Iowa,  which  we  attacked,  defeated  and  dispersed,  with  a  loss 
on  his  part  of  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  men  killed,  thirty-nine 
women  and  children  taken  prisoners — the  precise  number  could 
not  be  ascertained,  as  the  greater  portion  was  slain  after  being 
forced  into  the  river.  Our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  which 
is  stated  below,  is  very  small  in  comparison  with  the  enemy, 
which  may  be  attributed  to  the  enemy's  being  forced  from  his 
positions  by  a  rapid  charge  at  the  commencement,  and  through 
out  the  engagement — the  remnant  of  the  enemy,  cut  up  and 
disheartened,  crossed  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and 
has  fled  into  the  interior,  with  a  view,  it  is  supposed,  of  join 
ing  Keokuk  and  Wapello's  bands  of  Sacs  and  Foxes. 

"  The  horses  of  the  volunteer  troops  being  exhausted  by 
long  marches,  and  the  regular  troops  without  shoes,  it  was*not 
thought  advisable  to  continue  the  pursuit ;  indeed  a  stop  to  the 
further  effusion  of  blood  seemed  to  be  called  for,  till  it  might 
be  ascertained  if  the  enemy  would  surrender. 

"It  is  ascertained  from  our  prisoners,  that  the  enemy  lost  in 
the  battle  of  the  Ouisconsin  sixty-eight  killed  and  a  very  large 
number  wounded ;  his  whole  loss  does  not  fall  short  of  three 
hundred ; — after  the  battle  on  the  Ouisconsin,  those  of  the 
enemy's  women  and  children,  and  some  who  were  dismounted, 
attempted  to  make  their  escape  by  descending  that  river,  but 
judicious  measures  being  taken  by  Captain  Loomis  and  Lieut. 
Street,  Indian  agent,  thirty-two  women  and  children  and  four 
men  have  been  captured,  and  some  fifteen  men  killed  by  the 
detachment  under  Lieut.  Ritner. 

"The  day  after  the  battle  on  this  river,  I  fell  down  with  the 
regular  troops  to  this  place  by  water,  and  the  mounted  men 
will  join  us  to-day.  It  is  now  my  purpose  to  direct  Keokuk 
to  demand  a  surrender  of  the  remaining  principal  men  of  the 
hostile  party,  which,  from  the  large  number  of  women  and 
children  we  hold  prisoners,  I  have  every  reason  to  believe  will 
be  complied  with.  Should  it  not,  they  should  be  pursued  and 
subdued,  a  step  Maj.  Gen.  Scott  will  take  upon  his  arrival. 


ANECDOTE    OF    TAYLOR.  35 

"  I  cannot  speak  too  highly  of  the  brave  conduct  of  the 
regular  and  volunteer  forces  engaged  in  the  last  battle  and  the 
fatiguing  march  that  preceded  it ;  as  soon  as  the  reports  of 
officers  of  the  brigades  and  corps  are  handed  in,  they  shall  be 
submitted  with  further  remarks. 

"  5  killed,  2  wounded,  6th  inft. 
2       do.        5th  inft. 

1  captain,  5  privates,  Dodge's  Bat.  mounted. 
1  Lieut.  6  privates,  Henry's. 
1  private  wounded,  Alexander's. 
1  private       do.        Posey's. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect, 

Your  obedient  servant,  H.  ATKINSON, 

Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A. 

«  Maj.  Gen.  Macomb,  Com.  in  Chief,  Washington." 

Black  Hawk  and  his  fellow  prisoners  were  confided  to  the 
charge  of  Col.  Taylor,  who  conveyed  them  to  the  Jefferson 
Barracks,  where  they  arrived  about  the  middle  of  September. 
On  this,  as  on  every  other  occasion,  however  trying,  Taylor 
shrank  from  no  obligation,  the  result  of  his  position  as  an 
officer,  carrying  out  the  orders  of  his  superiors.  A  portion 
of  his  task  could  not  have  been  less  painful  to  his  feelings  than 
difficult  of  execution.  But  it  was  accomplished  promptly  and 
thoroughly,  in  a  manner  worthy  of  himself. 

The  writer  in  the  Literary  World,  already  quoted,  relates 
the  following  anecdote  of  Taylor,  while  in  pursuit  of  Black 
Hawk.  If  slightly  erroneous  in  any  particular,  it  is  at  least 
illustrative  of  the  man. 

«  Some  time  after  Stillman's  defeat  by  Black  Hawk's  band, 
Taylor,  marching  with  a  large  body  of  volunteers  and  a  hand 
ful  of  regulars  in  pursuit  of  the  hostile  Indian  force,  found 
himself  approaching  Rock  River,  then  asserted  by  many  to  be 
the  true  north-western  boundary  of  Illinois.  The  volunteers, 
as  Taylor  was  informed,  would  refuse  to  cross  the  stream. 
They  were  militia,  they  said,  called  out  for  the  defence  of  the 
state,  and  it  was  unconstitutional  to  order  them  to  march  beyond 
its  frontier  into  the  Indian  country.  Taylor  thereupon  halted 


36  A    DECISIVE    SPEECH. 

his  command,  and  encamped  within  the  acknowledged  boun 
daries  of  Illinois.  He  would  not,  as  the  relator  of  the  story 
said,  budge  an  inch  further  without  orders.  He  had  already 
driven  Black  Hawk  out  of  the  state,  but  the  question  of  crossing 
Rock  River  seemed  hugely  to  trouble  his  ideas  of  integrity  to 
the  constitution  on  one  side,  and  military  expediency  on  the 
other.  During  the  night,  however,  orders  came,  either  from 
General  Scott  or  General  Atkinson,  for  him  to  follow  up  Black 
Hawk  to  the  last.  The  quietness  of  the  regular  colonel,  mean 
while,  had  rather  encouraged  the  mutinous  militia  to  bring 
their  proceedings  to  a  head.  A  sort  of  town-meeting  was 
called  upon  the  prairie,  and  Taylor  invited  to  attend.  After 
listening  some  time  very  quietly  to  the  proceedings,  it  became 
Rough  and  Ready's  turn  to  address  the  chair.  « He  had  heard,' 
he  said,  <  with  much  pleasure  the  views  which  several  speakers 
had  expressed  of  the  independence  and  dignity  of  each  private 
American  citizen.  He  felt  that  all  gentlemen  there  present 
were  his  equals — in  reality,  he  was  persuaded  that  many  of 
them  would  in  a  few  years  be  his  superiors,  and  perhaps,  in 
the  capacity  of  members  of  congress,  arbiters  of  the  fortune 
and  reputation  of  humble  servants  of  the  republic  like  himself. 
He  expected  them  to  obey  them  as  interpreters  of  the  will  of 
the  people ;  and  the  best  proof  he  could  give  that  he  would 
obey  them,  was  now  to  observe  the  orders  of  those  whom  the 
people  had  already  put  in  the  places  of  authority,  to  which 
many  gentlemen  around  him  justly  aspired.  In  plain  English, 
gentlemen  and  fellow-citizens,  the  word  has  been  passed  on  to 
me  from  Washington  to  follow  Black  Hawk,  and  to  take  you 
with  me  as  soldiers.  I  mean  to  do  both.  There  are  the  flat- 
boats  drawn  up  on  the  shore,  and  here  are  Uncle  Sam's  men 
drawn  up  behind  you  on  the  prairie.'  "  It  is  unnecessary  to 
state  the  effect  of  this  appeal. 

After  the  Black  Hawk  war,  Col.  Taylor  was  for  a  short  time 
in  Louisville,  and  was  thence  ordered  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  to 
the  command  of  Fort  Crawford,  a  work  which  had  been  erected 
under  his  superintendence.  Here  he  remained  until  1836, 
when  his  services  were  required  in  the  Seminole  war  in  Florida. 
• 


FATE    OF    THE    INDIAN    RACES.  37 

To  that  field  he  immediately  repaired,  although  he  might  with 
propriety  have  asked  of  the  government  a  season  of  repose, 
having  very  rarely  enjoyed  the  ease  and  tranquillity  of  home 
during  a  period  of  more  than  twenty-five  years. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Destiny  of  the  Indian  Races — Causes  of  the  Florida  War — Osceola — Com 
mencement  of  the  Florida  War  —  Troops  in  Florida  —  Massacre  of  Dade'a 
Command  —  Volunteers  in  Florida  —  Taylor  ordered  to  the  Seat  of  War- 
Marches  against  the  Indians — Difficulties  of  the  March — Battle  of  Okeecho- 
bee— Gallantry  of  the  Troops— The  Killed  and  Wounded — Taylor's  Account 
of  the  Battle — Its  Results — Taylor  applauded  by  the  Country — Promoted  to 
a  Brigadier  Generalship — Appointed  to  the  chief  Command  in  Florida — Use 
of  Blood-hounds — Authority  for  the  Use — Reasons  for  the  same — Indian 
Murders,  several  Accounts — Their  Perfidy — Taylor  vindicated — He  retires 
from  the  Command  in  Florida. 

IT  is  a  fact,  which  speculative  philanthropy  seems  no  longer 
inclined  to  dispute,  that  the  aboriginal  races  of  this  continent 
must  decline  and  become  extinct  in  the  presence  of  our  own 
civilized  people.  The  minds  and  the  habits  of  the  white  and 
the  red  man  are  not  less  irreconcilable  than  the  colour  of  their 
skins.  It  appears  idle,  therefore,  to  mourn  over  the  inevitable 
fate  of  the  latter,  or  to  regard  as  criminal  the  progress  of  the 
former,  when  of  necessity  it  is  attended  with  the  invasion  and 
occupation  of  new  territory.  Justice  and  humanity  may  modify 
the  apparent  hardship  of  the  Indian,  banished  from  the  land 
of  his  fathers  and  bereft  of  the  rude  privileges  which  endear  it 
to  him.  But  no  ingenuity  can  devise  a  code,  which  will  secure 
his  national  independence  and  his  barbarous  usages,  when 
surrounded  by  a  civilized  community.  His  sovereignty  under 
such  circumstances  must  cease.  Nor  this  alone.  He  must 
also  recede  before  the  advance  of  a  superior  in  knowledge  and 
virtue,  as  well  as  in  power.  His  only  temporary  hope  of  re 
taining  the  semblance  of  freedom,  and  of  the  personal  and 
civil  customs  which  are  a  part  of  his  nature,  is  to  retire  beyond 
4 


38        THE  SEMINOLE  TROUBLES. 

the  boundaries  of  his  better  neighbour.  And  as  these  bound 
aries  extend,  he  must  still  retire ;  losing  strength  with  every 
movement,  destroying  the  associations  which  were  the  only 
safeguard  of  his  political  and  religious  system,  and  by  certain 
decay  wasting  away  sooner  or  later  from  the  face  of  the  earth. 

The  Seininole  Indians,  occupying  the  region  of  Florida, 
were  required  by  the  federal  government  to  emigrate  to  lands 
appropriated  for  their  occupation  on  the  west  of  the  Missis 
sippi  River.  The  requisition  may  have  been  a  little  prema 
ture —  their  vicinity  to  the  white  settlements  may  not  at  the 
time  have  been  wholly  incompatible  with  the  security  and 
comfort  of  the  latter.  But  the  period  of  their  removal  could 
not  have  been  long  postponed,  and  had  they  been  well  advised 
they  would  have  immediately  yielded  to  the  proposition  of  the 
government.  No  difficulty,  in  fact,  was  anticipated  in  carry 
ing  it  out.  The  local  newspapers  gave  assurances  of  the  rea 
diness  of  the  Indians  to  depart.  Some  unfairness,  however, 
which  it  is  needless  to  examine  here,  may  have  been  practised 
in  the  negotiations  with  them.  Their  jealousy  and  pride 
were  excited,  and  the  task,  which  at  first  appeared  so  easy 
and  certain  of  execution,  proved  to  be"  one  which  baffled  the 
diplomacy  of  cabinets  and  the  power  of  armies,  and  cost  the 
nation  tens  of  hundreds  of  lives  and  tens  of  millions  of  trea 
sure. 

A  treaty  with  the  Seminoles  for  their  removal  was  concluded 
at  Payne's  Landing,  in  Florida,  in  May,  1832,  allowing  three 
years  for  its  fulfilment.  The  government  was  first  advised  in 
1834  of  their  disinclination  to  depart.  Yet  as  late  as  the 
spring  of  1835,  there  was  in  Florida  a  confidence  in  the  public 
mind,  regarding  the  calm  dispositions  of  the  Seminoles,  un 
clouded  by  a  thought  of  the  terrible  storm  which  so  soon  after 
wards  desolated  its  homes,  and  menaced  for  a  time  even  its 
capital  with  destruction.  The  St.  Augustine  Herald  of  that 
period,  emphatically  denied  that  there  was  any  foundation  for 
the  reports  of  difficulties  with  the  Indians, — adding  this  assu 
rance  of  their  harmless  character:  "  The  Seminole  of  the  pre 
sent  day  is  a  different  being  from  the  warlike  son  of  the  forest, 


DESTRUCTION    OF    D  A  D  E '  S    COMMAND.     39 

when  the  tribe  was  numerous  and  powerful.  No  trouble  in 
the  removal  of  it  is  anticipated."  Yet  before  the  close  of  the 
year,  how  sadly  was  this  declaration  falsified !  A  chief  had 
appeared  among  this  tribe  destined  to  hold  a  place  in  history 
with  Philip  of  Pokanokee,  Tecumseh,  and  Black  Hawk.  This 
was  Osceola.  Hatred  for  the  whites  had  long  been  a  smo 
thered  fire  in  his  heart,  and  now  the  moment  had  arrived  when 
it  burst  forth  with  implacable  fury.  By  inheritance,  Osceola 
enjoyed  no  title  or  distinction  among  the  Seminoles.  He 
derived  his  origin  from  the  Creeks,  and  had  affected,  until  up 
wards  of  thirty  years  of  age,  the  more  pacific  feelings  of  that 
people.  But  when  the  time  for  throwing  off  disguise  appeared 
to  have  matured,  he  used  among  the  more  southern  tribes,  the 
influence  obtained  by  his  talents  and  courage.  Declaring 
openly  against  the>United  States'  government  and  citizens,  he 
supplanted  the  legitimate  chiefs  of  the  Seminoles,  and  even 
put  to  death  those  who  exhibited  a  desire  for  peaceful  mea 
sures.  Relentless  in  his  enmities,  profound  in  his  purposes 
of  vengeance,  reckless  of  danger,  deliberate,  cunning,  and 
ambitious,  he  acquired  perfect  ascendancy  over  his  red  breth 
ren,  and  when  he  gave  the  signal  war-cry,  murder,  rapine  and 
fire  told  of  their  dreadful  response,  from  the  everglades  of 
central  Florida  to  the  very  walls  of  St.  Augustine.  Conster 
nation  seized  the  quiet  inhabitants,  and  the  bolder  spirits, 
aroused  alike  by  grief  and  rage,  snatched  up  their  arms  and 
banded  together,  some  to  protect  their  homes,  others  to  pursue 
with  terrible  justice  the  foe  who  would  spare  nought  that  was 
dear  to  them. 

The  United  States'  troops,  at  this  time,  in  Florida  numbered 
between  five  and  six  hundred  men,  stationed  at  several  posts, 
— General  Clinch  being  in  command.  On  the  23d  of  Decem 
ber,  a  detachment  of  two  companies,  amounting  to  one  hundred 
and  twelve  officers  and  men,  under  Major  Dade,  marched  from 
Fort  Brooke  for  the  purpose  of  joining  the  commanding  gene 
ral.  On  their  route,  anticipating  no  danger,  they  were  sur 
prised  by  a  large  body  of  the  Indians;  and,  after  a  resistance, 
begun  with  cool  bravery  and  protracted  with  fierce  despair, 


40     TAYLOR  ORDERED  TO  FLORIDA. 

the  unfortunate  party  was  utterly  destroyed,  with  the  exception 
of  three  men,  who,  exhausted  with  many  wounds,  reached  the 
fort  to  tell  the  fate  of  their  companies.  From  this  memorable 
day,  open  war  commenced.  Many  Creek  warriors  joined  the 
Seminoles,  and  the  government  found  it  necessary  to  send  in 
succession  its  most  able  generals  into  the  field.  From  time  to 
time,  on  their  requisition,  the  gallant  men  of  Louisiana,  South 
Carolina,  Georgia,  Alabama,  and  Missouri,  promptly  took  up 
arms  to  aid  their  suffering  brethren  of  Florida.  On  the  part 
of  the  Indians,  occasional  success  added  vigour  to  their  bold 
and  cruel  enterprises. 

In  this  state  of  affairs,  Colonel  Taylor  was  ordered  to  the 
seat  of  war.  An  opportunity  was  not  long  wanting  for  a  new 
exhibition  of  his  perseverance  in  discovering,  and  his  skill  in 
fighting,  an  Indian  enemy.  General  Jesup  had  then  command 
of  the  army  in  Florida,  and,  like  his  predecessors  in  the  office, 
had  made  fruitless  efforts  to  bring  the  Seminoles  to  terms  of 
treaty.  The  hope  had  been  entertained,  that  a  delegation  of 
the  Cherokees,  acting  as  mediators,  might  be  able  to  convince 
them  of  the  ultimate  folly  of  opposing  the  wishes  of  our  govern 
ment,  and  the  immediate  advantages  of  laying  down  their 
arms  and  acceding  to  its  proposals.  The  intercession  of  these 
friendly  Indians,  however,  was  unavailing  with  the  obstinate 
and  ferocious  dispositions  of  the  resisting  tribes,  and  no  choice 
was  left  between  absolute  concession  to  their  demands,  or 
rigorous  enforcement  of  our  own.  Active  hostilities,  which 
during  two  years  had  abated  at  intervals,  were,  therefore,  de 
termined  upon  ;  and,  in  December,  1837,  Colonel  Taylor  re 
ceived  orders  to  seek  out  any  portion  of  the  enemy,  wherever 
to  be  found,  and  to  destroy  or  capture  his  forces. 

On  the  19th  and  20th  of  December,  1837,  the  force  under 
Colonel  Taylor,  amounting  to  about  eleven  hundred,  officers 
and  men,  left  Fort  Gardner,  in  pursuance  of  the  instructions 
of  General  Jesup..  The  country  presented  all  the  usual 
obstacles  to  the  march  of  an  army,  which  are  found  in  the 
narrow  peninsula  of  Florida,  and  which  had  baffled  the  plans 
of  many  former  expeditions.  A  wet  and  soft  soil,  matted  with 


II     "W7  * 

DIFFICULTIES    OF    A    MARCH.  41 

rank  herbage,  which  clogged  the  feet  at  every  step,  and  served 
as  an  impenetrable  screen  to  a  lurking  foe  ;  the  deep  and  slimy 
beds  and  the  waters  of  many  streams  ;  the  dense  thickets  of 
the  cypress,  the  palmetto,  and  other  luxuriant  underwood, — 
such  was  the  surface  over  which  Taylor  led  his  troops  to  dis 
cover  and  cope  with  the  savages.  The  latter,  anticipating  his 
approach,  and  perfectly  familiar  with  the  labyrinths  and  natu 
ral  fastnesses  of  their  own  country,  had  retired  to  one  of  its 
strongest  and  most  inaccessible  places,  prepared  to  give  him 
battle. 

The  commander  and  his  followers  were  not  ignorant  of  the 
hazard  and  toil  of  their  enterprise.  Many  were  the  brave 
spirits  who  had  perished  in  similar  duty, — a  duty  in  which 
failure  had  often  brought  reproach ;  and  in  which  success, 
achieved  with  grievous  wounds  and  death,  had  been  un- 
honoured  by  the  applause  of  the  nation,  unrewarded  by  the 
care  of  the  government.  Regardless  of  all  this,  so  crushing 
to  the  soldier's  energies,  Taylor  led  on  his  generous  little  army. 
Never  had  worthy  chief  more  worthy  aid.  The  noble  and 
brave  Lieutenant  Colonel  Davenport,  who  like  him  had  been 
in  the  border  struggles  of  the  north-west ;  the  firm  and  daring 
Lieut.  Cols.  Thompson  and  Foster,  of  the  army,  the  latter 
schooled  in  the  wars  with  England  and  on  the  frontier,  and  the 
magnanimous  Col.  Gentry  of  the  Missouri  volunteers,  divided 
the  commands  under  him.  The  banks  of  the  Kissimmee 
River  marked  the  course  of  the  march,  which  for  five  days 
was  laboriously  pursued.  At  times  the  long  clotted  grass  of 
the  swamps  wholly  arrested  the  advance  of  the  horses,  and  the 
men  only  finished  a  wearisome  progress  through  these  obstacles, 
to  plunge  into  the  stagnant  waters  of  low  bottom  lands.  Oc 
casionally  a  straggling  Indian  or  the  individuals  of  a  family 
were  captured,  who  served  to  assure  Taylor  that  he  was 
approaching  the  stronghold  of  their  people.  On  the  fifth  day 
after  leaving  Fort  Gardner  he  reached  a  cypress  swamp,  which 
bore  the  marks  of  the  late  presence  of  a  large  body  of  the 
enemy.  Taylor  disposed  his  army  in  order  of  battle,  and  ad 
vanced  expecting  to  find  him.  But  the  swamp  was  passed 
4* 


42  BATTLE    OF    OKEECHOBEE. 

without  his  appearing,  and  a  large  prairie  disclosed,  bounded 
on  its  farther  side  by  an  extensive  hammock.  In  the  latter, 
according  to  the  report  of  a  prisoner,  the  Indians  were  posted. 
Here,  at  noon  on  the  25th,  the  final  preparations  were  made 
for  the  attack. 

Gentry's  Missouri  volunteers  and  Captain  Morgan's  «  Spies" 
were  formed  in  an  extended  line,  and  ordered  to  enter  the 
hammock,  to  attack  the  enemy,  and  if  repulsed  to  fall  back 
under  cover  of  the  regular  troops.  The  Fourth  Infantry,  under 
Lt.  Col.  Foster,  and  the  Sixth,  under  Lt.  Col.  Thompson, 
formed  a  second  line  to  support  the  volunteers.  The  First  In 
fantry,  under  Lt.  Col.  Davenport,  was  held  in  reserve.  Eager 
for  the  action,  the  troops  hurried  forward  in  this  order,  but  at 
the  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  entered  a  wide  slough, 
which  seemed  to  forbid  farther  progress.  For  horses  the  ad 
vance  was  impossible,  and  they  were  abandoned,  while  the 
men,  buried  to  their  necks  in  the  long  tangled  grass,  and 
sinking  frequently  to  their  waists  in  slime  and  water,  struggled 
on  to  charge  the  unseen  fee.  They  had  proceeded  thus  but 
little  beyond  the  edge  of  the  swamp,  the  volunteers  and  spies 
leading  in  the  order  assigned  them,  when  suddenly  the  rustle 
of  the  grass  and  the  plash  of  the  water  through  which  they 
moved,  were  smothered  in  the  rattle  of  hundreds  of  rifles. 
The  savages  were  close  before  them,  and  had  reserved  their 
fire  until  it  would  be  surely  answered  with  the  death-cry  of 
many  a  brave  assailant.  But  the  shock  for  a  time  was  fear 
lessly  sustained,  and  the  volunteers  still  charged  on,  until  the 
impetuous  commander,  cheering  them  in  the  front  rank,  re 
ceived  a  fatal  shot  and  fell.  Major  Sconce,  Capt.  Childs, 
Lieutenants  Rogers,  Haas,  and  Gordon,  staggered  under  their 
wounds.  The  men,  discouraged,  now  gave  way  and  retired 
from  the  storm  which  had  swept  down  their  leaders.  But  the 
regulars  pressed  forward  through  the  deep  morass,  as  compact 
and  firm  as  if  the  solid  ground  were  beneath  them,  and  only  a 
holiday  crowd  in  front  to  admire  their  manoeuvres.  On  the 
Sixth  Infantry  a  torrent  of  bullets  was  poured,  carrying  havoc 
into  their  files.  The  dark  cool  waters  beneath  them  grew 


THE    INDIANS    DEFEATED.  43 

•warm  and  red  with  their  blood,  and  in  the  foremost  ranks  was 
not  a  heart  but  paid  its  tribute  to  swell  the  tide.  Their  leader, 
too,  the  heroic  Thompson,  regardless  of  two  balls  received  in 
the  first  onset,  courted  and  met  death  at  their  head,  shouting 
the  charge,  and  words  of  encouragement,  with  his  last  breath. 
Still  they  closed  upon  their  foes,  and  with  every  step  left 
behind  a  fallen  chief  or  comrade.  Adjutant  Center,  Captain 
Van  Swearingen,  and  Lieut.  Brooke  perished.  Capt.  Andrews 
and  Lieuts.  Hooper  and  Walker  were  wounded,  and  every  in 
ferior  officer  of  five  companies  in  the  advance  was  also  killed 
or  disabled,  while  of  one  company  only  four  men  were  unin 
jured.  For  more  than  an  hour,  before  so  terrible  a  fire,  the 
gallant  Sixth  advanced,  and  when  its  leaders  were  lost,  at  last 
retired,  but  only  for  a  time,  to  form  again  and  renew  the  assault. 
Thrice  the  enemy  wavered  and  gave  ground,  and  thrice  re 
turned  to  the  most  desperate  conflict  ever  maintained  by  their 
arms. 

Meanwhile  Lt.  Col.  Foster  led  on  the  Fourth,  and  finally 
drove  the  savages  from  their  position ;  and  being  joined  by 
Capt.  Noel  with  the  remaining  companies  of  the  Sixth,  pressed 
them  hotly  to  their  camp  on  the  borders  of  Lake  Okeechobee. 
Capt.  Allen,  with  two  companies,  having  been  detached  to  the 
right  in  the  beginning  of  the  action,  Lieut.  Col.  Davenport, 
with  the  First  Infantry,  was  ordered,  when  his  advance  was 
perceived,  to  turn  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy.  This  move 
ment  being  executed  with  brave  alacrity,  and  the  enemy  seeing 
the  regiment  in  position,  delivered  one  final  volley  from  their 
rifles  and  fled,  the  three  regiments  of  regulars  and  a  portion  of 
the  volunteers  following  them  in  every  direction,  and  only 
abating  the  pursuit  when  night  closed  in  upon  them. 

The  force  of  the  Indians  amounted  to  several  hundred 
warriors,  and  they  had  so  chosen  their  defensive  position  as  to 
give  the  utmost  efficiency  to  their  numbers.  Their  loss  was 
not  ascertained.  The  loss  of  our  troops  in  this  severe  and 
memorable  battle,  included  fourteen  officers  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty-four  men,  killed  and  wounded,  being  one-fifth 
of  the  whole  number  engaged.  Upon  the  merits  of  a  victory 


44  CREDIT    OF    THE    VICTORY. 

gained  under  such  circumstances,  and  at  such  cost  of  life  and 
blood,  what  comment  can  be  made  to  enhance  respect  for  the 
dauntless  spirits  who  won  it  ?  We  look  upon  the  exhausting 
march  of  five  days  from  Fort  Gardner,  and  the  previous  ad 
vance  of  five  weeks  to  that  station,  attended  with  hardships 
scarcely  less  appalling,  and  we  ask  in  admiration,  whence  was 
the  strength,  whence  the  energy,  whence  the  courage  to  engage 
for  three  hours  on  ground  which  scarcely  admitted  a  foothold, 
and  defeat  and  scatter  a  foe  whom  nature  had  entrenched  and 
desperation  animated  ?  Can  any  answer  be  found  to  the  ques 
tion,  unless  it  be  in  the  ability,  the  valour,  the  endurance,  the 
inspiring  presence  of  the  chief  himself?  He  had  led  them  on 
the  long  and  arduous  march,  sharing  all  their  toils  and  priva 
tions,  and  when  they  met  the  enemy,  he  was  seen  where  the 
battle  strewed  the  dead  around  him,  calm  amid  its  iron  tempest, 
and  giving  assurance  by  his  thrilling  voice  and  flashing  eye  of 
victory,  which,  however  long  it  may  flutter  around  his  standard, 
never  fails  to  rest  at  last  upon  it. 

The  contest  over,  the  care  of  the  wounded  and  the  dead  was 
the  first  thought  of  the  commander.  That  his  humanity  may 
be  appreciated,  as  well  as  his  heroism,  through  the  whole  of 
the  trying  scenes  which  have  been  faintly  sketched,  it  is  proper 
to  exhibit  his  own  official  narrative. 

«  Head  Quarters,  First  Brigade,  Army  south  of  the  Withlacoochee. 

"Fort  Gardner,  January  4,  1838. 

"  On  the  19th  ultimo,  I  received  at  this  place  a  communi 
cation  from  Major  General  Jesup,  informing  me  that  all  hopes 
of  bringing  the  war  to  a  close  by  negotiation,  through  the  in 
terference  or  mediation  of  the  Cherokee  delegation,  were  at  an 
end ;  Sam  Jones,  with  the  Mickasukies,  having  determined  to 
fight  it  out  to  the  last,  and  directing  me  to  proceed  with  the 
least  possible  delay  against  any  portion  of  the  enemy  I  might 
hear  of  within  striking  distance,  and  to  destroy  or  capture 
him. 

"After  leaving  two  officers  and  an  adequate  force  for  the 
protection  of  my  depot,  I  marched  the  next  morning,  with 
twelve  days'  rations  (my  means  of  transportation  not  enabling 


TAYLOR'S  OFFICIAL  ACCOUNT.        45 

me  to  carry  more,)  with  the  balance  of  my  command,  consist 
ing  of  Captain  Munroe's  company  of  the  Fourth  artillery,  total 
thirty-five  men  ;  the  First  infantry,  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Foster,  two  hundred  and  seventy-four ;  the 
Sixth  infantry,  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Thompson,  two  hun 
dred  and  twenty-one  ;  the  Missouri  volunteers,  one  hundred 
and  eighty;  Morgan's  spies,  forty-seven;  pioneers,  thirty; 
pontoneers,  thirteen ;  and  seventy  Delaware  Indians,  making 
a  force,  exclusive  of  officers,  of  one  thousand  and  thirty-two 
men  ;  the  greater  part  of  the  Shawnees  having  been  detached, 
and  the  balance  refusing  to  accompany  me,  under  the  pretext 
that  a  number  of  them  were  sick,  and  the  remainder  were  with 
out  moccasins. 

"  I  moved  down  the  west  side  of  the  Kissimmee,  in  a  south 
easterly  course,  towards  Lake  Istopoga,  for  the  following 
reasons:  1st.  Because  I  knew  a  portion  of  the  hostiles  were  to 
be  found  in  that  direction  ;  2d.  If  General  Jesup  should  fall  in 
with  the  Mickasukies  and  drive  them,  they  might  attempt  to 
elude  him  by  crossing  the  Kissimmee,  from  the  east  to  the  west 
side  of  the  peninsula,  between  this  and  its  entrance  into  the 
Okeechobee,  in  which  case  I  might  be  near  at  hand  to  inter 
cept  them ;  3d.  To  overawe  and  induce  such  of  the  enemy 
who  had  been  making  propositions  to  give  themselves  up,  and 
who  appeared  very  slow,  if  not  to  hesitate  in  complying  with 
their  promises  on  that  head,  to  surrender  at  once  ;  and  lastly, 
I  deemed  it  advisable  to  erect  block-houses  and  a  small  picket 
work  on  the  Kissimmee,  for  a  third  depot,  some  thirty  or  forty 
miles  below  this,  and  obtain  a  knowledge  of  the  intervening 
country,  as  I  had  no  guide  who  could  be  relied  on,  and  by 
this  means  open  a  communication  with  Colonel  Smith,  who 
was  operating  up  the  Caloosehatchee,  or  Sangbel  river,  under 
my  orders. 

"  Late  in  the  evening  of  the  first  day's  march,  I  met  the  In 
dian  chief  Jumper,  with  his  family,  and  a  part  of  his  band, 
consisting  of  fifteen  men,  a  part  of  them  with  families,  and  a 
few  negroes,  in  all  sixty-three  souls,  on  his  way  to  give  him 
self  up,  in  comformity  to  a  previous  arrangement  I  had  entered 


46  EVENTS    ON    THE    MARCH. 

into  with  him.  They  were  conducted  by  Captain  Parks  and 
a  few  Shawnees.  He  (Parks)  is  an  active,  intelligent  half- 
breed,  who  is  at  the  head  of  the  friendly  Indians,  both  Shaw 
nees  and  Delawares,  and  who  I  had  employed  to  arrange  and 
bring  in  Jumper  and  as  many  of  his  people  as  he  could  prevail 
on  to  come  in.  We  encamped  that  night  near  the  same  spot ;  and 
the  next  morning,  having  ordered  Captain  Parks  to  join  me 
and  take  command  of  the  Delawares,  and  having  despatched 
Jumper,  in  charge  of  some  Shawnees,  to  this  place,  and  so  on 
to  Fort  Frazier,  I  continued  my  march,  after  having  sent  for 
ward  three  friendly  Seminoles  to  gain  intelligence  as  to  the 
position  of  the  enemy. 

"About  noon  the  same  day,  I  sent  forward  one  battalion 
of  Gentry's  regiment,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Price,  to  pick  up  any  stragglers  that  might  fall  in  his  way,  to 
encamp  two  or  three  miles  in  advance  of  the  main  force,  to 
act  with  great  circumspection,  and  to  communicate  promptly 
any  occurrence  that  might  take  place  in  his  vicinity,  important 
for  me  to  know.  About  10,  P.  M.,  I  received  a  note  from 
the  colonel,  stating  that  the  three  Seminoles  sent  forward  in 
the  morning  had  returned;  that  they  had  been  at  or  near 
where  Alligator  had  encamped,  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  in  his 
advance ;  that  he  (Alligator)  had  left  there  with  a  part  of  his 
family  four  days  before,  under  the  pretext  of  separating  his 
relations,  &c.,  from  the  Mickasukies,  preparatory  to  his  sur 
rendering  with  them ;  that  there  were  several  families  remaining 
at  the  camp  referred  to,  who  wished  to  give  themselves  up, 
and  would  remain  there  until  we  took  possession  of  them,  un 
less  they  were  forcibly  carried  off  that  night  by  the  Mickasu 
kies,  who  were  encamped  at  no  great  distance  from  them. 

"  In  consequence  of  this  intelligence,  after  directing  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  Davenport  to  follow  me  early  in  the  morning 
with  the  infantry,  a  little  after  midnight  I  put  myself  at  the 
head  of  the  residue  of  the  mounted  men  and  joined  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Price,  proceeded  on,  crossing  Istopoga  outlet,  and 
soon  after  daylight  took  possession  of  the  encampment  referred 
to,  where  I  found  the  inmates,  who  had  not  been  disturbed. 


FURTHER    INCIDENTS.  47 

They  consisted  of  an  old  man,  and  two  young  ones,  and  seve 
ral  women  and  children,  amounting  in  all  to  twenty-two  indi 
viduals.  The  old  man  informed  me  that  Alligator  was  very 
anxious  to  separate  his  people  from  the  Mickasukies,  who  were 
encamped  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Kissimmee,  distant  about 
twenty  miles,  where  they  would  fight  us.  I  sent  him  to  Alli 
gator  to  say  to  him,  if  he  were  sincere  in  his  professions,  to 
meet  me  the  next  day  at  the  Kissimmee,  where  the  trail  I  was 
marching  on  crossed,  and  where  I  should  halt. 

"As  soon  as  the  infantry  came  up  I  moved  on  to  the  place 
designated,  which  I  reached  late  that  evening,  and  where  I 
encamped.  About  IIP.  M.,  the  old  Indian  returned,  bring 
ing  a  very  equivocal  message  from  Alligator,  who,  he  stated, 
he  had  met  accidentally ;  also,  that  the  Mickasukies  were  still 
encamped  where  they  had  been  for  some  days,  and  where  they 
were  determined  to  fight  us. 

"  I  determined  at  once  on  indulging  them  as  soon  as  prac 
ticable.  Accordingly,  next  morning,  after  laying  out  a  small 
stockade  work  for  the  protection  of  a  future  depot,  in  order  to 
enable  me  to  move  with  the  greatest  celerity,  I  deposited  the 
whole  of  my  heavy  baggage,  including  artillery,  &c.,  and  hav 
ing  provisioned  the  command  to  include  the  26th,  after  leaving 
Captain  Munroe  with  his  company,  the  pioneer,  pontoneers, 
with  eighty-five  sick  and  disabled  infantry,  and  a  portion  of 
the  friendly  Indians,  who  alleged  that  they  were  unable  to 
march  farther,  crossed  the  Kissimmee,  taking  the  old  Indian 
as  a  guide  who  had  been  captured  the  day  before,  and  who 
accompanied  us  with  great  apparent  reluctance,  in  pursuit  of 
the  enemy,  and  early  the  next  day  reached  Alligator's  encamp 
ment,  situated  on  the  edge  of  Cabbage-tree  Hammock,  in  the 
midst  of  a  large  prairie,  from  the  appearance  of  which,  and 
other  encampments  in  the  vicinity,  and  the  many  evidences 
of  slaughtered  cattle,  there  must  have  been  several  hundred 
individuals. 

"At  another  small  hammock,  at  no  great  distance  from  Al 
ligator's  encampment,  and  surrounded  by  a  swamp,  impassable 
for  mounted  men,  the  spies  surprised  an  encampment  contain- 

*<K.X,  *•  '          ' 


48 


SPIES    CAPTURED. 


ing  one  old  man,  four  young  men,  and  some  women  and  chil 
dren.  One  of  the  party  immediately  raised  a  white  flag,  when 
the  men  were  taken  possession  of,  and  brought  across  the 
swamp  to  the  main  body.  I  proceeded  with  an  interpreter  to 
meet  them.  They  proved  to  be  Seminoles,  and  professed  to 
be  friendly.  They  stated  that  they  were  preparing  to  come 
in ;  they  had  just  slaughtered  a  number  of  cattle,  and  were 
employed  in  drying  and  jerking  the  same.  They  also  informed 
me  that  the  Mickasukies,  headed  by  A-vi-a-ka,  (Sam  Jones,) 
were  some  ten  or  twelve  miles  distant  encamped  in  a  swamp, 
and  were  prepared  to  fight. 

"Although  I  placed  but  little  confidence  in  their  professions 
of  friendship,  or  their  intentions  of  coming  in,  yet  I  had  no 
time  to  look  up  their  women  and  children,  who  had  fled  and 
concealed  themselves  in  the  swamp,  or  to  have  encumbered 
myself  with  them  in  the  situation  in  which  I  then  was.  Ac 
cordingly,  I  released  the  old  man,  who  promised  that  he  would 
collect  all  the  women  and  children  and  take  them  in  to  Captain 
Munroe,  at  the  Kissimmee,  the  next  day.  I  also  dismissed 
the  old  man  who  had  acted  as  guide  thus  far,  supplying  his 
place  with  the  four  able  warriors  who  had  been  captured  that 
morning. 

"  These  arrangements  being  made,  I  moved  under  their 
guidance  for  the  camp  of  the  Mickasukies.  Between  two  and 
three,  P.  M.,  we  reached  a  very  dense  cypress  swamp,  through 
which  we  were  compelled  to  pass,  and  in  which  our  guide  in 
formed  us  we  might  be  attacked.  After  making  the  necessary 
dispositions  for  battle,  it  was  ascertained  that  there  was  no 
enemy  to  oppose  us.  The  army  crossed  over  and  encamped 
for  the  night,  it  being  late.  During  the  passage  of  the  rear, 
Captain  Parks,  who  was  in  advance  with  a  few  friendly  Indians, 
fell  in  with  two  of  the  enemy's  spies,  between  two  and  three 
miles  of  our  camp5  one  on  horseback,  the  other  on  foot,  and 
succeeded  in  capturing  the  latter.  He  was  an  active  young 
warrior,  armed  with  an  excellent  rifle,  fifty  balls  in  his  pouch, 
and  an  adequate  proportion  of  powder.  This  Indian  confirmed 
the  information  which  had  been  previously  received  from  the 


DISPOSITION    FOR    BATTLE.  49 

other  Indians,  and,  in  addition,  stated  that  a  large  body  of 
Seminoles,  headed  by  John  Cohua,  (Co-a-coo-chee,)  and,  no 
doubt,  Alligator,  with  other  chiefs,  were  encamped  five  or  six 
miles  from  us,  near  the  Mickasukies,  with  a  cypress  swamp 
and  dense  hammock  between  them  and  the  latter. 

"  The  army  moved  forward  at  daylight  the  next  morning, 
and  after  marching  five  or  six  miles,  reached  the  camp  of  the 
Seminoles  on  the  border  of  another  cypress  swamp,  which 
must  have  contained  several  hundred,  and  bore  evident  traces 
of  having  been  abandoned  in  a  great  hurry,  as  the  fires  were 
still  burning,  and  quantities  of  beef  lying  on  the  ground  un- 
consumed. 

"  Here  the  troops  were  again  disposed  of  in  order  of  battle, 
but  we  found  no  enemy  to  oppose  us ;  and  the  command  was 
crossed  over  about  11  A.  M.,  when  we  entered  a  large  prairie 
in  our  front,  on  which  two  or  three  hundred  head  of  cattle 
were  grazing,  and  a  number  of  Indian  ponies.  Here  another 
young  Indian  warrior  was  captured,  armed  and  equipped  as 
the  former.  He  pointed  out  a  dense  hammock  on  our  right, 
about  a  mile  distant,  in  which  he  said  the  hostiles  were  situ 
ated,  and  waiting  to  give  us  battle. 

"At  this  place  the  final  disposition  was  made  to  "attack 
them,  which  was  in  two  ^ines,  the  volunteers  under  ^Gentry, 
and  Morgan's  spies,  to  form  the  first  line  in  extended  order, 
who  were  instructed  to  enter  the  hammock,  and  in  the  event 
of  being  attacked  and  hard  pressed,  were  to  fall  back  in  rear 
of  the  regular  troops,  out  of  reach  of  the  enemy's  fire ;  the 
second  was  composed  of  the  4th  and  6th  infantry,  who  were 
instructed  to  sustain  the  volunteers,  the  1st  infantry  being  held 
in  reserve. 

"  Moving  on  in  the  direction  of  the  hammock,  after  pro 
ceeding  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  we  reached  the  swamp 
which  separated  us  from  the  enemy,  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
in  breadth,  being  totally  impassable  for  horses,  and  nearly  so 
for  foot,  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  saw  grass,  five  feet 
high,  and  about  knee-deep  in  mud  and  water,  which  extended 
to  the  left  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  and  to  the  right  to  a 
5 


5(X   ^  SANGUINARY    ASSAULT. 

part  of  the  swamp  and  hammock  we  had  just  crossed  through, 
ran  a  deep  creek.  At  the  edge  of  the  swamp  the  men  were 
dismounted,  and  the  horses  and  baggage  left  under  a  suitable 
guard.  Captain  Allen  was  detached  with  the  two  companies 
of  mounted  infantry  to  examine  the  swamp  and  hammock  to 
the  right,  and  in  case  he  should  not  find  the  enemy  in  that  di 
rection,  was  to  return  to  the  baggage,  and  in  the  event  of  his 
hearing  a  heavy  firing  to  join  me  immediately. 

"  After  making  these  arrangements,  I  crossed  the  swamp  in 
the  order  stated.  On  reaching  the  borders  of  the  hammock, 
the  volunteers  and  spies  received  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy, 
which  was  returned  by  them  for  a  short  time,  when  their  gal 
lant  commander,  Colonel  Gentry,  fell,  mortally  wounded. 
They  mostly  broke  ;  and  instead  of  forming  in  rear  of  the  re 
gulars,  as  had  been  directed,  they  retired  across  the  swamp  to 
their  baggage  and  horses,  nor  could  they  again  be  brought  into 
action  as  a  body,  although  efforts  were  made  repeatedly  by  my 
staff  to  induce  them  to  do  so. 

"The  enemy,  however,  were  promptly  checked  and  driven 
back  by  the  4th  and  6th  infantry,  which  in  truth  might  be  said 
to  be  a  moving  battery.  The  weight  of  the  enemy's  fire  was 
principally  concentrated  on  five  companies  of  the  6th  infantry, 
which  not  only  stood  firm,  but  continued  to  advance  until 
their  gallant  commander,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Thompson,  and 
his  adjutant,  Lieutenant  Center,  were  killed ;  and  every  officer, 
with  one  exception,  as  well  as  most  of  the  non-commissioned 
officers,  including  the  serjeant-major  and  four  of  the  orderly 
sergeants,  killed  and  wounded  of  those  companies,  when  that 
portion  of  the  regiment  retired  to  a  short  distance  and  were 
again  formed,  one  of  these  companies  having  but  four  members 
left  untouched. 

"  Lieutenant  Colonel  Foster,  with  six  companies,  amounting 
in  all  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  men,  gained  the  hammock  in 
good  order,  where  he  was  joined  by  Captain  Noel  with  the 
two  remaining  companies  of  the  6th  infantry,  and  Captain 
Gentry's  volunteers,  with  a  few  additional  men,  continued  to 
drive  the  enemy  for  a  considerable  time,  and  by  a  change  of 


CARE    OF    THE    WOUNDED.  51 

front,  separated  his  line  and  continued  to  drive  him  until  he 
reached  the  great  lake,  Okeechobee,  which  was  in  the  rear  of 
the  enemy's  position,  and  on  which  their  encampment  extended 
for  more  than  a  mile.  As  soon  as  I  was  informed  that  Captain 
Allen  was  advancing,  I  ordered  the  1st  infantry  to  move  to  the 
left,  gain  the  enemy's  right  flank,  and  turn  it,  which  order  was 
executed  in  the  promptest  manner  possible,  and  as  soon  as 
that  regiment  got  in  position,  the  enemy  gave  one  fire  and  re 
treated,  being  pursued  by  the  1st,  4th,  and  6th,  and  some  of 
the  volunteers  who  had  joined  them,  until  near  night,  and 
until  these  troops  were  nearly  exhausted,  and  the  enemy  driven 
in  all  directions. 

"  The  action  was  a  severe  one,  and  continued  from  half-past 
twelve  until  three  P.  M.,  a  part  of  the  time  very  close  and  se 
vere.  We  suffered  much,  having  twenty-six  killed,  and  one 
hundred  and  twelve  wounded,  among  whom  are  some  of  our 
most  valuable  officers.  The  hostiles  probably  suffered,  all 
things  considered,  equally  with  ourselves,  they  having  left  ten 
dead  on  the  ground,  besides,  doubtless,  carrying  off*  more,  as 
is  customary  with  them  when  practicable. 

"As  soon  as  the  enemy  were  completely  broken,  I  turned 
my  attention  to  taking  care  of  the  wounded,  to  facilitate  their 
removal  to  my  baggage,  where  I  ordered  an  encampment  to 
be  formed.  I  directed  Captain  Taylor  to  cross  over  to  the  spot 
and  employ  every  individual  whom  he  might  find  there  in  con 
structing  a  small  footway  across  the  swamp ;  this,  with  great 
exertions,  was  completed  in  a  short  time  after  dark,  when  .all 
the  dead  and  wounded  were  carried  over  in  litters  made  for 
the  purpose,  with  one  exception,  a  private  of  the  4th  infantry, 
who  was  killed  and  could  not  be  found.  jj 

"  And  here  I  trust  I  may  be  permitted  to  say  that  I  expe 
rienced  one  of  the  most  trying  scenes  of  my  life,  and  he  who 
could  have  looked  on  it  with  indifference,  his  nerves  must  have 
been  differently  organized  from  my  own.  Besides  the  killed, 
there  lay  one  hundred  and  twelve  wounded  officers  and  sol 
diers,  who  had  accompanied  me  one  hundred  and  forty-five 
miles,  most  of  the  way  through  an  unexplored  wilderness, 


52       RETURN  TO  FORT  GARDNER. 

without  guides,  who  had  so  gallantly  beaten  the  enemy,  under 
my  orders,  in  his  strongest  position,  and  who  had  to  be  con 
veyed  back,  through  swamps  and  hammocks,  from  whence  we 
set  out,  without  any  apparent  means  of  doing  so.  This  ser 
vice,  however,  was  encountered  and  overcome,  and  they  have 
been  conveyed  thus  far,  and  proceeded  on  to  Tampa  Bay  on 
rude  litters,  constructed  with  the  axe  and  knife  alone,  with 
poles  and  dry  hides — the  latter  being  found  in  great  abundance 
at  the  encampment  of  the  hostiles.  The  litters  were  carried 
on  the  backs  of  our  weak  and  tottering  horses,  aided  by  the 
residue  of  the  command,  with  more  ease  and  comfort  to  suf 
ferers  than  I  could  have  supposed,  and  with  as  much  as  they 
could  have  been  in  ambulances  of  the  most  improved  and 
modern  construction. 

"  The  day  after  the  battle  we  remained  at  our  encampment, 
occupied  in  taking  care  of  the  wounded,  and  in  the  sad  office 
of  interring  the  dead ;  also  in  preparing  litters  for  the  removal 
of  the  wounded,  and  collecting,  with  a  portion  of  the  mounted 
men,  the  horses  and  cattle  in  the  vicinity  belonging  to  the 
enemy,  of  which  we  found  about  one  hundred  of  the  former, 
many  of  them  saddled,  and  nearly  three  hundred  of  the  latter. 

"  We  left  our  encampment  on  the  morning  of  the  27th,  for 
the  Kissimmee,  where  I  had  left  my  heavy  baggage,  which 
place  we  reached  about  noon  on  the  28th.  After  leaving  two 
companies  and  a  few  Indians  to  garrison  the  stockade,  which 
I  found  nearly  completed  on  my  return,  by  that  active  and 
vigilant  officer,  Captain  Munroe,  4th  artillery,  I  left  the  next 
morning  for  this  place,  where  I  arrived  on  the  31st,  and  sent 
forward  the  wounded  next  day  to  Tampa  Bay,  with  the  4th 
and  6th  infantry,  the  former  to  halt  at  Fort  Frazer,  remaining 
here  myself  with  the  1st,  in  order  to  make  preparations  to  take 
the  field  again  as  soon  as  my  horses  can  be  recruited,  most  of 
which  have  been  sent  to  Tampa,  and  my  supplies  in  a  sufficient 
state  of  forwardness  to  justify  the  measure. 

"  In  speaking  of  the  command,  I  can  only  say,  that  so  far 
as  the  regular  troops  are  concerned,  no  one  could  have  been 
more  efficiently  sustained  than  I  have  been,  from  th'e  com- 


HONOUR    TO    THE    TROOPS.  53 

mencement  of  the  campaign ;  and  I  am  certain  that  they  will 
always  be  willing  and  ready  to  discharge  any  duty  that  may  be 
assigned  them. 

"  To  Lieutenant  Colonel  Davenport,  and  the  officers  and 
soldiers  of  the  First  Infantry,  I  feel  under  many  obligations 
for  the  manner  in  which  they  have,  on  all  occasions,  discharged 
their  duty  ;  and  although  held  in  reserve,  and  not  brought  into 
battle  until  near  its  close,  it  evinced  by  its  eagerness  to  engage, 
and  the  promptness  and  good  order  with  which  they  entered 
the  hammock,  when  the  order  was  given  for  them  to  do  so,  is 
the  best  evidence  that  they  would  have  sustained  their  own 
characters,  as  well  as  that  of  the  regiment,  had  it  been  their 
fortune  to  have  been  placed  in  the  hottest  of  the  battle. 

"  The  Fourth  Infantry,  under  their  gallant  leader,  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Foster,  was  among  the  first  to  gain  the  hammock,  and 
maintained  this  position,  as  well  as  driving  a  portion  of  the 
enemy  before  him,  until  he  arrived  on  the  borders  of  Lake 
Okeechobee,  which  was  in  the  rear,  and  continued  the  pursuit 
until  near  night.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Foster,  who  was  favour 
ably  noticed  for  his  gallantry  and  good  conduct  in  nearly  all 
the  engagements  on  the  Niagara  frontier,  during  the  late  war 
with  Great  Britain,  by  his  several  commanders,  as  well  as  in 
the  different  engagements  with  the  Indians  in  this  territory, 
never  acted  a  more  conspicuous  part  than  in  the  action  of  the 
25th  ult. ;  he  speaks  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  conduct  of 
brevet  Major  Graham,  his  second  in  command,  as  also  the 
officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Fourth  Infantry,  who  were  engaged 
in  the  action.  Captain  Allen,  with  his  two  mounted  compa 
nies  of  the  Fourth  Infantry,  sustained  his  usual  character  for 
promptness  and  efficiency.  Lieutenant  Hooper,  of  the  Fourth 
Regiment,  was  wounded  through  the  arm,  but  continued  on 
the  field,  at  the  head  of  his  company,  until  the  termination  of 
the  battle. 

« I  am  not  sufficiently  master  of  words  to  express  my  admi 
ration  of  the  gallantry  and  steadiness  of  the  officers  and  soldiers 
of  the  sixth  regiment  of  infantry.  It  was  their  fortune  to  bear 
the  brunt  of  the  battle.  The  report  of  the  killed  and  wounded, 


54  GENTRY    AND    HIS    SON. 

which  accompanies  this,  is  more  conclusive  evidence  of  their 
merits  than  anything  I  can  say.  After  five  companies  of  this 
regiment,  against  which  the  enemy  directed  the  most  deadly 
fire,  was  nearly  cut  up,  there  being  only  four  men  left  uninjured 
in  one  of  them  ;  and  every  officer  and  orderly  serjeant  of  those 
companies,  with  one  exception,  were  either  killed  or  wounded, 
Captain  Noel,  with  the  remaining  two  companies,  his  own 
company,  "  K.,"  and  Grossman's,  "B.,"  commanded  by 
second  Lieutenant  Woods,  which  was  the  left  of  the  regiment, 
formed  on  the  right  of  the  fourth  infantry,  entered  the  hammock 
with  that  regiment,  and  continued  the  fight  and  the  pursuit 
until  its  termination.  It  is  due  to  Captain  Andrews  and  Lieu 
tenant  Walker,  to  say  they  commanded  two  of  the  five  com 
panies  mentioned  above,  and  they  continued  to  direct  them, 
until  they  were  both  severely  wounded,  and  carried  from  the 
field ;  the  latter  received  three  separate  balls. 

"The  Missouri  volunteers,  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Gentry,  and  Morgan's  spies,  who  formed  the  first  line,  and, 
of  course,  were  the  first  engaged,  acted  as  well,  or  even  better, 
than  troops  of  that  description  generally  do  ;  they  received  and 
returned  the  enemy's  fire  with  spirit,  for  some  time,  when  they 
broke  and  retired,  with  the  exception  of  Captain  Gillam  and  a 
few  of  his  company,  and  Lieutenant  Blakey,  also  with  a  few 
men,  who  joined  the  regulars,  and  acted  with  them,  until  after 
the  close  of  the  battle,  but  not  until  they  had  suffered  severely ; 
the  commanding  officer  of  the  volunteers,  Colonel  Gentry, 
being  mortally  wounded  while  leading  on  his  men,  and  en 
couraging  them  to  enter  the  hammock,  and  come  to  close 
quarters  with  the  enemy ;  his  son,  an  interesting  youth,  eigh 
teen  or  nineteen  years  of  age,  serjeant  major  of  the  regiment, 
was  severely  wounded  at  the  same  moment. 

"  Captain  Childs,  Lieutenants  Rogers  and  Flanagan,  of 
Gentry's  regiment,  acting  Major  Sconce,  and  Lieutenants  Hase 
and  Gordon,  of  the  spies,  were  wounded,  while  encouraging 
their  men  to  a  discharge  of  their  duty. 

"  The  volunteers  and  spies  having,  as  before  stated,  fallen 
t?ack  to  the  baggage,  could  not  again  be  formed  and  brought 


OFFICERS    SIGNALIZED.  55 

up  to  the  hammock  in  anything  like  order;  but  a  number  of 
them  crossed  over  individually,  and  aided  in  conveying  the 
wounded  across  the  swamp  to  the  hammock,  among  whom 
were  Captain  Curd,  and  several  other  officers,  whose  names  I 
do  not  now  recollect. 

"  To  my  personal  staff,  consisting  of  first  Lieutenant  J.  M. 
Hill,  of  the  second,  and  first  Lieutenant  George  H.  Griffin,  of 
the  sixth  infantry,  the  latter  aid-de-camp  to  Major  General 
Gaines,  and  a  volunteer  in  Florida  from  his  staff,  I  feel  under 
the  greatest  obligations  for  the  promptness  and  efficiency  with 
which  they  have  sustained  me  throughout  the  campaign,  and 
more  particularly  for  their  good  conduct,  and  the  alacrity  with 
which  they  aided  me  and  conveyed  my  orders  during  the  ac 
tion  of  the  25th  ult. 

"  Captain  Taylor,  commissary  of  subsistence,  who  was  or 
dered  to  join  General  Jesup  at  Tampa  Bay,  as  chief  of  the 
subsistence  department,  and  who  was  ordered  by  him  to  remain 
with  his  column  until  he  (General  Jesup)  joined  it,  although 
no  command  was  assigned  Captain  Taylor,  he  greatly  exerted 
himself  in  trying  to  rally  and  bring  back  the  volunteers  into 
action,  as  well  as  discharging  other  important  duties  which 
were  assigned  to  him  during  the  action. 

"Myself,  as  well  as  all  who  witnessed  the  attention  and 
ability  displayed  by  Surgeon  Satterlee,  medical  director  on  this 
side  the  peninsula,  assisted  by  assistant  surgeons  McLaren  and 
Simpson,  of  the  medical  staff  of  the  army,  and  Doctors  Hannah 
and  Cooke,  of  the  Missouri  volunteers,  in  ministering  to  the 
wounded,  as  well  as  their  uniform  kindness  to  them  on  all  oc 
casions,  can  never  cease  to  be  referred  to  by  me  but  with  the 
most  pleasing  and  grateful  recollections. 
•  «  The  quartermaster's  department,  under  the  direction  of 
that  efficient  officer,  Major  Brant,  and  his  assistant,  Lieutenant 
Babbit,  have  done  everything  that  could  be  accomplished  to 
throw  forward  from  Tampa  Bay,  and  keep  up  supplies  of  pro 
visions,  forage,  etc.,  with  the  limited  means  at  their  disposal. 
Assistant  commissaries  Lieutenants  Harrison,  stationed  at  Fort 
Gardner,  and  McClure,  at  Fort  Fraser,  have  fully  met  my  ex- 


:>•••  .  * 

56  THOMPSON'S  LAST  WORDS. 

pectations  in  discharge  of  the  various  duties  connected  with 
their  department,  as  well  as  those  assigned  them  in  the  quar 
termaster's  department. 

"  This  column,  in  six  weeks,  penetrated  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  into  the  enemy's  country,  opened  roads,  and  con 
structed  bridges  and  causeways,  when  necessary,  on  the 
greater  portion  of  the  route,  established  two  depots,  and  the 
necessary  defences  for  the  same,  and  finally  overtook  and  beat 
the  enemy  in  his  strongest  position.  The  results  of  which 
movement  and  battle  have  been  the  capture  of  thirty  of  the 
hostiles,  the  coming  in  and  surrendering  of  more  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  Indians  and  negroes,  mostly  the  former,  in 
cluding  the  chiefs  Ou-la-too-gee,  Tus-ta-nug-gee,  and  other 
principal  men,  the  capturing  and  driving  out  of  the  country 
six  hundred  head  of  cattle,  upwards  of  one  hundred  head  of 
horses,  besides  obtaining  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  country 
through  which  we  operated,  a  greater  portion  of  which  was 
entirely  unknown,  except  to  the  enemy. 

"  Colonel  Gentry  died  in  a  few  hours  after  the  battle,  much 
regretted  by  the  army,  and  will  be,  doubtless,  by  all  who 
knew  him,  as  his  state  did  not  contain  a  braver  man  or  a  bet 
ter  citizen. 

"  It  is  due  to  his  rank  and  talents,  as  well  as  to  his  long  and 
important  services,  that  I  particularly  mention  Lieutenant  Co 
lonel  A.  R.  Thompson,  of  the  Sixth  Infantry,  who  fell,  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duty,  at  the  head  of  his  regiment.  He  was 
in  feeble  health,  brought  on  by  exposure  to  this  climate  during 
the  past  summer,  refusing  to  leave  the  country  while  his  regi 
ment  continued  in  it.  Although  he  received  two  balls  from 
the  fire  of  the  enemy,  early  in  the  action,  which  wounded  him 
severely,  yet  he  appeared  to  disregard  them,  and  continued  to 
give  his  orders  with  the  same  coolness  that  he  would  have  done 
had  his  regiment  been  under  review  or  on  any  parade  duty. 
Advancing,  he  received  a  third  ball,  which  at  once  deprived 
him  of  life.  His  last  words  were,  "keep  steady,  men,  charge 
the  hammock — remember  the  regiment  to  which  you  belong." 
I  had  known  Colonel  Thompson  personally  only  for  a  short 


RESULT    OF    THE    BATTLE.  57 

'^•t'  '  •*•          * 

time,  and  the  more  I  knew  of  him  the  more  I  wished  to  know ; 
and,  had  his  life  been  spared,  our  acquaintance,  no  doubt, 
would  have  ripened  into  the  closest  friendship.  Under  such 
circumstances,  there  are  few,  if  any,  other,  than  his  bereaved 
wife,  mother,  and  sisters,  who  more  deeply  and  sincerely 
lament  his  loss,  or  who  will  longer  cherish  his  memory,  than 
myself. 

"  Captain  Van  Swearingen,  Lieutenant  Brooke,  and  Lieu 
tenant  and  Adjutant  Center,  of  the  same  regiment,  who  fell  on 
that  day,  had  no  superiors  of  their  years  in  service,  and,  in 
point  of  chivalry,  ranked  among  the  first  in  the  army  or  nation  ; 
besides  their  pure  and  disinterested  courage,  they  possessed 
other  qualifications,  which  qualified  them  to  fill  the  highest 
grades  of  their  profession,  which,  no  doubt,  they  would  have 
attained  and  adorned,  had  their  lives  been  spared.  The  two 
former  served  with  me  on  another  arduous  and  trying  cam 
paign,  and,  on  every  occasion,  whether  in  the  camp,  on  the 
march,  or  on  the  field  of  battle,  discharged  their  various  duties 
to  my  entire  satisfaction. 

With  great  respect,  etc.,  etc., 

Z.  TAYLOR,  Col.  Com'd. 

To  Brig.  Gen.  Jones,  Adj.  Gen.,  U.  S.  Army,  Washington,  D.  C." 

The  immediate  consequence  of  the  battle  of  Lake  Okeecho- 
bee,  was  the  surrender  of  a  number  of  Indians.  Col.  Taylor 
had  penetrated  farther  into  their  country  than  any  other  com 
mander,  and  to  a  point  beyond  which  it  was  impossible  to  pro 
ceed,  had  he  even  been  unincumbered  by  -the  care  of  the 
wounded.  The  nature  of  the  soil,  as  has  been  seen,  forbade 
the  transportation  of  supplies  in  the  usual  mode,  and  the 
enemy,  if  disposed,  was  therefore  at  liberty  to  remain  in  the 
depths  of  their  native  wilderness.  This,  as  the  subsequent 
history  of  the  war  unhappily  shows,  continued  to  be  the  policy 
of  a  large  number,  who,  scattered  in  petty  bands  over  a  wide 
extent  of  barren  and  swamp  lands,  were  enabled  to  defy  for 
years  all  the  force  which  the  federal  government  deemed  expe 
dient  to  employ  against  them.  If,  however,  the  dearly-bought 


58  TAYLOR    PROMOTED. 

triumph  of  Taylor  failed  to  reduce  the  whole  body  of  the  In 
dians  to  terms  of  peace,  it  still  demanded  the  grateful  recogni 
tion  of  the  nation  and  the  government.  The  sentiments  of  the 
latter  were  expressed  in  the  annexed  General  Order. 

"Washington,  February  20,  1838. 

"  The  Secretary  of  War  has  received  from  Col.  Taylor,  of  the 
First  Regiment  of  Infantry,  of  the  affair  of  the  25th  December 
last,  with  the  Seminole  Indians  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake 
Okeechobee,  in  Florida,  in  which  the  Indians,  after  a  severe 
conflict,  were  beaten  and  driven  at  all  points. 

"  The  gallantry  and  the  steadiness  displayed  in  the  attack 
are  highly  creditable  to  the  corps  engaged ;  and  the  conduct 
of  Col.  Taylor,  in  pursuing  the  enemy  and  bringing  him  to 
action,  is  deserving  of  high  commendation. 

"  The  triumph  of  success  cannot  lessen  the  regret  which 
must  be  felt  by  all  for  the  loss  of  the  many  valuable  lives,  and 
the  severe  suffering  by  wounds,  which  unavoidably  attend  a 
military  achievement. 

"  To  Col.  Taylor  and  the  officers,  non-commissioned  officers, 
and  troops  of  the  regular  army,  the  Secretary  of  War  tenders 
the  thanks  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  for  the  dis 
cipline  and  bravery  displayed  by  them  on  the  occasion  ;  as 
likewise  to  the  officers  and  volunteers  of  Missouri,  who  shared 
in  the  conflict,  and  who  evinced  so  much  zeal  and  gallantry  in 
bringing  on  the  action. 

"By  order  of 

ALEXANDER  MACOMB, 
Mj.  Gen.  Commander-in-Chief." 

This  official  acknowledgement  of  Taylor's  merit  was  soon 
after  followed  by  promotion  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier  General 
by  brevet,  according  to  the  language  of  the  order,  "  for  dis 
tinguished  services  in  the  battle  of  Kissimmee  (Okeechobee), 
in  Florida." 

In  April,  1838,  and  soon  after  his  promotion,  the  command 
of  the  troops  in  Florida  was  assigned  to  General  Taylor,  Ge 
neral  Jesup  having  been  relieved  at  his  own  desire.  In  this 


SUCCEEDS    GEN.    JESUP.  59 

new  and  responsible  position,  his  entire  energies  were  devoted 
to  the  protection  of  the  inhabitants  from  attacks  of  the  Indians, 
and  of  the  reduction  of  the  latter  to  submission  to  the  authority 
of  the  United  States.  The  perfect  accomplishment  of  these 
objects  was  impracticable  with  the  means  and  forces  placed  at 
the  disposal  of  the  commander.  In  a  communication  to  the 
war  department,  written  by  General  Jesup,  on  the  ninth  of 
February,  1838,  prior  to  his  recall,  he  makes  these  decided 
remarks  on  the  subject  of  the  war : 

"As  a  soldier,  it  is  my  duty,  I  am  aware,  not  to  comment 
on  the  policy  of  the  government,  but  to  carry  it  out  in  accord 
ance  with  my  instructions.  I  have  endeavoured  faithfully  to 
do  so,  but  the  prospect  of  terminating  the  war  in  any. reasona 
ble  time  is  any  thing  but  flattering.  My  decided  opinion  is, 
that  unless  immediate  emigration  be  abandoned,  the  war  will 
continue  for  years  to  come,  and  at  constantly  accumulating 
expense." 

In  the  letter,  of  which  this  is  a  prophetic  passage,  the  dis 
tinguished  writer  earnestly  recommends  that  the  Indians  be 
allowed  to  remain  within  certain  limits,  at  a  distance  from  the 
white  population.  The  advice,  however,  was  not  followed, 
and  General  Taylor  was  entrusted  with  the  task  which  four  able 
predecessors  had  in  vain  endeavoured  to  perform.  From  time 
to  time  skirmishes  with  the  Indians  took  place,  and  individuals, 
or  small  parties  of  them,  were  captured  or  voluntarily  surren 
dered.  But  they  could  never  be  brought  to  a  general  action, 
and  after  a  short  season  of  comparative  repose,  they  renewed, 
against  the  defenceless  inhabitants  of  the  frontier,  the  acts  of 
barbarity  which  had  marked  their  first  hostilities. 

To  put  an  end  to  this  work,  an  expedient  was  at  last  devised, 
which,  as  it  was  the  subject  of  much  severe  animadversion  at 
the  time,  and  of  which  General  Taylor  bore  a  part,  it  is  proper 
that  his  candid  biographer  should  record.  This  expedient 
was  the  use  of  blood-hounds  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians.  The 
annunciation  of  such  a  purpose  was  at  first  received  with  doubt, 
and  finally  visited  with  unqualified  censure,  in  those  parts  of 
the  country  where,  on  the  one  hand,  the  sufferings  of  the  peo- 


60          EMPLOYMENT    OF    BLOOD-HOUNDS. 

pie  of  Florida  from  their  savage  neighbours  were  not  appre 
ciated,  and  where  on  the  other  the  real  agency  of  the  blood 
hounds  was  not  understood.  An  inquiry  into  the  matter  having 
been  instituted  by  Congress,  it  appeared  that  the  local  govern 
ment  of  Florida  originated  the  measure,  and  that  the  War 
Department  had  no  share  in  it.  It  also  appeared,  and  the 
public  mind  was  afterwards  fully  satisfied  on  the  point,  that 
the  dogs  were  employed  not  to  destroy,  nor  even  to  harass, 
the  Indians,  but  simply  to  follow  their  trails  and  indicate  their 
hiding-places.  Even  for  this  purpose  they  were  soon  found 
incompetent,  and  the  use  of  them  was  discontinued  after  a 
brief  trial.  But  it  is  not  the  less  expedient  to  show  here  by 
positive  testimony  in  what  mode  and  to  what  extent  they  were 
used,  and  what  were  the  circumstances  which  induced  an  ex 
periment,  the  naked  mention  of  which  seems  to  prove  it  incon 
sistent  with  humanity  and  the  laws  of  civilized  warfare. 

A  correspondence  on  this  subject  was  submitted  by  the  Sec 
retary  of  War  to  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Military 
Affairs  in  the  United  States  Senate,  showing  that  the  introduc 
tion  of  the  dogs  into  Florida  was  made  by  the  authorities  of 
that  territory,  and  that  they  were  to  be  used  «  as  guides  to  dis 
cover  the  lurking-places  of  the  Indians,  and  not  to  worry  or 
destroy  them."  The  Secretary  further  stated  that  the  impor 
tation  of  the  animals  was  made  by  the  Governor  and  Council 
of  Florida  without  consultation  with  the  War  Department, 
which  was  ignorant  of  the  intention  until  after  their  arrival.  It 
was  the  intention  to  use  them  muzzled  and  secured  by  leashes 
held  by  the  keepers.  This  declaration  of  the  Secretary  was 
confirmed  by  General  Taylor  himself,  who  said  in  a  letter  to 
the  Department,  that  the  object  in  employing  the  dogs  was 
"  only  to  ascertain  where  the  Indians  could  be  found — not  to 
injure  them."  This  fact  being  apparent,  it  is  only  necessary 
to  show  under  what  circumstances  the  introduction  of  such 
aids  was  suggested,  to  prove  that  the  measure  was  not  only 
undeserving  censure,  but  that  if  it  could  have  accomplished 
its  object,  it  was  demanded  by  every  consideration  of  justice 


BARBARITY    OF    THE    INDIANS.  61 

and  humanity,  regarding  the  long-suffering  inhabitants  of  the 
Florida  frontiers. 

It  was  not  until  these  people,  engaged  in  the  peaceful  cares 
of  their  plantations,  had  been  exposed  for  five  years  to  the 
loss  of  property  and  life  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  and  when 
every  attempt  at  conciliation  had  failed,  and  every  exertion 
of  force  proved  abortive,  that  the  assistance  of  dogs,  less  fero 
cious  than  the  Indians  themselves,  was  essayed  to  discover 
and  subdue  them.  The  journals  of  the  period  are  burdened 
with  accounts  of  the  ruin  and  murder  which  they  visited  upon 
their  unoffending  neighbours.  A  few  examples  may  serve  to 
prove  to  what  grievous  extremities  the  latter  were  reduced. 

In  the  spring  of  1839,  strenuous  efforts  were  made  to  con 
clude  a  peace  with  the  Indians.  Negotiations  had  been  en 
tered  into  with  their  chiefs,  and  their  country  enjoyed  at  the 
hands  of  our  troops  the  protection  of  a  white  flag.  It  was 
under  these  circumstances  that  the  residence  of  Mr.  Edmund 
Gray,  a  respectable  citizen  of  Jefferson  county,  was  attacked 
by  one  of  their  marauding  parties.  While  sitting  in  his  house, 
after  dark,  with  his  children  around  him,  himself  and  one  of 
them,  an  infant  in  years,  were  shot.  Another  child,  attempting 
to  fly,  was  also  shot.  A  third  was  knocked  down  with  a  mus 
ket  and  pierced  with  bayonet  wounds.  The  fourth,  a  little 
girl,  and  only  remaining  member  of  the  family,  escaped  to  tell 
the  tale  of  its  slaughter,  in  which  thirty  savages  took  part. 

In  the  same  vicinity,  two  dwellings  of  another  citizen  pre 
sented  a  scene  of  similar  barbarities ;  and  after  the  murder  of 
the  inmates,  the  houses  were  burnt  to  the  ground. 

At  another  settlement,  the  head  of  the  family  was  wounded 
and  his  little  boy  killed.  Three  children  of  a  planter,  in  his 
absence  from  home,  were  butchered.  A  respectable  widow 
lady  and  her  five  children  shared  the  same  fate,  and  other 
families  escaping  from  their  ruined  homes,  were  thrown  desti 
tute  upon  the  charity  of  distant  friends. 

The  contemporaneous  narratives  of  these  and  other  atrocities 
present  them  in  the  most  impressive  light,  and  a  few  extracts 
are  pertinent  to  the  purpose  of  demonstrating  the  deplorable 
6 
• 


62  FURTHER    EXAMPLES. 

condition  of  families  exposed  to  the  treachery  and  cruelty  of 
the  enemy.  The  following  is  from  the  Tallahassee  Star  of 
July,  1839. 

"  On  Saturday  night,  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock,  the 
family  of  Mr.  Green  Chairs,  about  ten  miles  from  town,  was 
attacked  by  the  Indians.  Mrs.  Chairs  was  sitting  by  the 
table,  sewing,  surrounded  by  her  interesting  family,  consisting 
of  her  husband  and  six  children.  An  Indian  rifle  was  fired, 
and  Mrs.  Chairs  fell  dead.  Mr.  Chairs  instantly  sprang  up, 
and  seizing  his  rifle,  closed  the  doors  and  windows,  and  de 
termined  to  defend  his  dwelling.  He  directed  the  four  elder 
children  to  make  their  escape  by  the  back  door.  One  of  them, 
young  lady  of  seventeen,  was  seen  and  pursued  by  the  sa 
vages,  but,  wearing  a  dark  cloak,  she  was  enabled  to  conceal 
herself  in  some  bushes.  Mr.  Chairs,  at  the  same  time,  dis 
covered  that  the  house  had  been  fired  ;  and,  so  rapid  was  the 
progress  of  the  flames,  that  this  new  danger,  and  the  conster 
nation  produced  by  the  death  of  his  wife,  caused  him  to  for 
get  his  two  youngest  children.  He  fled,  leaving  them  ; — and 
both,  helpless  infants,  were  burnt  to  cinders,  with  his  dwelling, 
and  all  else  that  it  contained.  Information  of  this  horrid  trans 
action  reached  our  city  during  the  night." 

The  same  journal  relates  this  incident.  "  Two  wagons  left 
Fort  Frank  Brooke  on  Monday,  and,  after  proceeding  a  short 
distance,  they  were  fired  upon,  by  Indians,  from  a  hammock, 
and  two  men  killed.  The  body  of  one  was  afterwards  found, 
horribly  mutilated,  with  the  eyes  dug  out,  the  throat  cut,  and 
otherwise  disfigured.  The  body  of  the  other  could  not  be 
found."  At  this  time,  a  "  Treaty"  was  supposed  to  be  in 
force  with  the  Indians.  In  the  same  month,  the  faithless  and 
vindictive  barbarians  butchered  a  portion  of  Colonel  Harney's 
command,  under  circumstances  thus  narrated  by  a  correspond 
ent  of  the  National  Gazette  : 

"  On  the  28th  of  July,  four  dragoons,  two  wounded,  arrived 
here,  (Garey's  Ferry,  East  Florida,)  and  reported  the  massacre 
of  a  large  part  of  Colonel  Harney's  command,  who  were  sent 
to  the  Caloosahatchee  to  establish  a  trading-house,  in  con- 


MORE    OUTRAGES.  63 

formity  with  Macomb's  Treaty.  The  Indians  had,  for  some 
time,  manifested  the  most  friendly  dispositions,  daily  visiting 
the  camp,  and  trading  with  the  sutler.  So  completely  had 
they  lulled  the  troops  into  security,  that  no  defence  was 
erected,  and  no  guard  maintained.  The  camp  was  on  the 
margin  of  the  river.  At  dawn,  on  the  23d  of  July,  the  enemy 
made  a  simultaneous  attack  on  the  camp  and- the  trading-house. 
Those  who  escaped  their  first  discharge  fled  naked  to  the  river, 
and  effected  their  escape  in  some  fishing-smacks.  Colonel 
Harney  was  among  them.  The  serjeant,  and  four  others, 
while  descending  the  river,  were  called  to  the  shore  by  a  well- 
known  Indian,  who  spoke  English  perfectly,  with  the  assurance 
that  they  would  not  be  harmed.  They  complied,  and  were 
instantly  butchered.  Altogether,  eighteen  were  killed.  Colo 
nel  Harney  afterwards  cautiously  approached  the  spot,  and 
found  eleven  bodies  shockingly  mutilated,  and  two  hundred 
and  fifty  Indians,  in  the  neighbourhood,  dancing  and  whoop 
ing  in  savage  triumph." 

A  correspondent  of  the  Army  and  Navy  Chronicle  wrote, 
as  follows,  from  Fort  King,  under  date  of  the  6th  of  September, 
1839. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say,  that  the  Florida  war  is  far  from  being 
ended.  Hardly  a  week  passes  without  some  outrages  by  the 
Indians.  A  party  of  volunteers,  bathing  in  Orange  lake  a  few 
days  ago,  were  attacked,  and  one  of  them  killed.  An  express 
rider  was  shot  on  the  road,  and  his  body  mutilated.  I  could 
enumerate  a  thousand  instances  of  Indian  murders  since  the 
<*  treaty."  When  I  saw  them  receiving  presents  at  this  post, 
I  was  disgusted  to  think  we  were  shaking  hands  with  men 
whose  blood-stained  hands  and  treacherous  looks  denoted 
anything  but  peaceable  intentions." 

One  other  example  of  this  relentless  hate  may  close  this 
subject.  It  is  from  the  Charleston  Mercury  of  August,  1840. 

"  By  the  schooner  Empire,  Capt.  South  wick,  we  have  re 
ceived  St.  Augustine  papers  of  the  21st  inst.,  from  which  we 
copy  the  following  account  of  the  butchery  at  Indian  Key, 
which  varies  in  some  particulars  from  that  already  published. 


64  ATTACK    ON    INDIAN    KEY. 

"  The  steamer  Santee,  Captain  Poinsett,  arrived  on  Wednes 
day  morning  from  the  south,  bringing  passengers  the  family  of 
Dr.  Perrine,  late  of  Indian  Key.  She  brought  in  tow,  from 
New  Smyrna,  the  steamer  Wm.  Gaston,  which  boat  had  sus 
tained  injury  some  time  since. 

"  It  becomes  again  our  mournful  duty  to  record  the  success 
ful  effusion  of  blood  in  this  ill-fated  territory,  and  the  trium 
phant  accomplishment,  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  of  an  ad 
venture  bordering  on  romance.  Indian  Key,  a  small  spot  of 
not  over  seven  acres  in  extent,  and  situated  a  short  distance  in 
advance,  midway  between  old  and  new  Matacomba  Key, 
about  thirty  miles  from  the  main  land,  and  on  our  Southern 
Atlantic  coast,  was  invested  by  seventeen  boats  containing  In 
dians  ;  seven  of  its  inhabitants  murdered,  the  island  plundered, 
and  its  buildings  burnt.  I 

"About  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  inst.,.a  Mr. 
Glass,  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Houseman,  happening  to  be  up, 
saw  boats  approaching,  and  informed  a  person  in  the  same 
employ,  when  they  passed  into  Mr.  Houseman's  garden,  and 
were  satisfied  that  they  were  boats  containing  Indians.  The 
Indians  commenced  their  firing  upon  the  house  of  Mr.  House 
man  and  Dr.  Perrine ;  the  former  of  whom,  with  his  family, 
and  that  of  Mr.  Charles  Howe  and  his  family,  succeeded  in 
escaping  to  boats,  and  crossed  over  to  Teatable  Key.  The 
family  of  Dr.  Perrine  passed  through  a  trap- door  into  their 
bathing-room,  from  whence  they  got  into  the  turtle  crawl,  and 
by  great  effort  removed  the  logs  and  escaped  to  the  front  of 
Houseman's  store.  They  then  went  to  a  boat  at  the  wharf,  which 
six  Indians  (all  who  remained)  had  partly  filled,  and  were  in 
the  store  after  a  further  supply.  They  then  pushed  off  and 
pulled  with  an  oar,  a  paddle  and  poles  towards  the  Medium. 
They  were  met  by  a  boat  when  they  had  rowed  a  mile,  and 
taken  to  the  schooner. 

"  Mr.  Motte  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  Johnson,  a  lady  of  seventy 
years  of  age,  fled  into  an  out-house,  from  whence  Mrs.  Motte 
was  dragged  by  an  Indian,  and  while  in  the  act  of  calling  on 
her  husband,  "John,  save  me!"  she  was  killed.  Mr.  Motte 


»•  * 

MURDERS    AT    INDIAN    KEY.  65 

shared  the  same  fate,  and  was  scalped ;  and  the  old  lady,  as 
she  was  dragged  forth,  suddenly  jerking  from  the  Indian,  broke 
his  hold,  and  escaped  under  a  house.  Her  grandchild,  a 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Motte,  aged  four  years,  was  then  killed  with 
a  club,  and  the  infant  strangled  and  thrown  in  the  water.  This 
was  seen  by  Mrs.  Johnson  from  her  hiding-place  ;  but  the  In 
dians  fired  this  building,  and  she  was  again  forced  to  flee,  and 
escaped  to  Malony's  wharf,  and  secreted  herself,  and  was  finally 
rescued.  James  Sturdy,  a  boy  about  eleven  years  of  age,  hid 
himself  in  the  cistern  under  Mr.  Houseman's  house,  and  was 
scalded  to  death  by  the  burning  building  heating  the  water. 
The  remains  of  an  adult  skeleton  were  found  among  the  ruins 
of  Dr.  Perrine's  house,  supposed  to  be  the  doctor,  as  well  as 
that  of  a  child,  thought  to  have  been  a  slave  of  Mr.  House 
man. 

"  The  Indians  were  what  is  known  as  Spanish  Indians,  and 
were  headed  by  Chekekia,  the  same  chief  who  headed  the 
party  massacring  the  men  at  Caloosahatchie.  They  obtained 
a  great  amount  of  plunder  from  the  houses  and  stores ;  and 
whilst  engaged  in  obtaining  these  articles,  Mrs.  Perrine,  with 
her  two  daughters  and  little  son,  reached  a  boat  partially  loaded, 
and  put  off  to  the  schooner  Medium,  laying  at  some  distance. 
They  were  promptly  rescued  by  a  boat  coming  to  their  assist 
ance,  and  were  taken  to  the  schooner. 

"  On  Mr.  Houseman  reaching  Teatable  Bay,  Midshipman 
Murray,  U.  S.  N.,  started  with  his  only  available  force  of  fifteen 
men  and  two  swivels,  ten  of  whom  were  in  hospital,  so  sick 
as  to  be  certainly  unfit  for  duty,  but  urging  their  claim,  were 
permitted,  hoping  to  cut  off  the  boats,  and  thus  prevent  the 
escape  of  the  Indians.  On  the  second  fire  of  his  guns,  they 
recoiled  overboard,  and  the  Indians  then  commenced  a  fire 
upon  his  boat  from  a  six-pounder,  belonging  to  Mr.  Houseman, 
charged  with  musket  balls,  and  drove  back  this  active  officer. 

"  Communication  was   immediately  despatched   to   Lieut. 

McLaughlin,  who  was  at  Key  Biscayne  with  the  United  States 

schooners  Flirt  and  Ostego,  and  they  proceeded  down.     The 

Indians,  however,  had  escaped,  after  maintaining  possession  of 

6* 


66         TAYLOR'S  POLICY  VINDICATED. 

the  island  twelve  hours,  carrying  off  large  quantities  of  powder 
and  other  articles,  and  laying  the  little  settlement  in  ashes.  All 
escaped  save  the  unfortunates  named  above. 

"  Among  the  bold  and  lawless  feats  of  daring  which  have 
characterized  the  enemy  during  the  war,  there  is  nothing  that 
will  bear  a  comparison  with  this.  We  have  seen  the  murdered 
remains  of  the  citizen  and  soldier  almost  within  sight  of  the 
garrison,  when  the  white  flag  of  overture  was  waving  to  these 
inhuman  rascals  in  acts  of  kindness.  We  have  seen  the  armed 
rider  stricken  by  the  bullet  from  the  covert  of  the  hammock, 
and  the  carriage  of  the  traveller  made  to  receive  the  last  life 
drop  of  its  occupant.  We  have  seen  the  faithlessness  of  the 
tribe,  even  when  the  humanity  of  the  white  man  was  devising 
every  means  for  its  comfort,  planning  their  accursed  schemes 
of  murder,  and  Caloosahatchie,  the  ground  of  confidence  and 
good  will,  red  with  the  blood  of  our  troops  and  citizens.  But 
an  island  we  had  thought  safe.  As  little  would  we  have  looked 
for  an  avalanche  amid  the  sands  of  Arabia,  or  the  glowing 
warmth  of  the  equator,  amid  the  "  Greenland's  icy  mountains," 
as  an  attack  from  Indians  upon  an  island.  A  force,  too,  of 
seventeen  canoes,  averaging  five  men  each,  make  a  voyage  of 
at  least  thirty  miles  from  the  main  land,  and  "  ransack,  pillage, 
and"  destroy,"  and  return  in  safety!  When  will  these  hor 
rors  end?" 

It  were  an  easy  task  to  compile  a  volume  of  narratives  simi 
lar  to  the  foregoing,  establishing  the  perfidy  and  ineffable  bar 
barity  of  the  Seminole  character.  Enough,  however,  has  been 
cited  for  this  object;  enough  to  satisfy  the  judgment  of  a 
Christian  age,  that  short  of  imitation  of  their  own  cruelties,  of 
retaliation  upon  their  own  women  and  children,  no  means 
could  merit  censure,  which  might  seem  necessary  and  available 
to  reduce  such  enemies  into  subjection.  So  far  as  General 
Taylor  is  supposed  to  be  responsible  for  the  employment  of 
blood-hounds  in  tracing  these  blood-men,  it  is  conceived  that 
he  is  wholly  vindicated.  His  reputation  is  now  the  care  of  his 
contemporaries,  as  his  life  will  be  the  study  of  posterity ;  and 
if  an  unjust  blot  has  ever  been  cast  upon  his  name,  this  gene- 


TAYLOR    OFFICIALLY    APPLAUDED.         67 

ration  may  forever  wipe  it  off,  feeling  that  his  honour  is  the 
honour  of  his  country. 

From  the  day  of  his  appointment  to  the  command  of  the 
army  in  Florida,  General  Taylor  had  made  the  most  effective 
disposition  of  his  forces  to  accomplish  the  object,  which  was 
imposed  by  the  government,  but  believed  to  be  impracticable 
by  every  man  familiar  with  the  numbers,  dispositions,  and 
situation  of  the  Seminoles.  The  treaty,  already  mentioned, 
was  concluded  with  some  of  their  people  by  General  Macomb 
in  person,  who  had  left  Washington  with  diplomatic  powers 
for  that  purpose.  Pending  its  promised  observance  on  their 
part,  and  its  actual  observance  on  the  part  of  the  United  States 
army  and  citizens,  the  unprovoked  and  atrocious  butcheries 
and  burnings  by  the  Indians  were  continued.  The  federal 
government  at  last,  after  having  called  from  time  to  time  about 
fifteen  thousand  men  into  the  field,  after  expending  fifteen  mil 
lions  of  money,  and  sacrificing  in  a  service,  not  less  ungrate 
ful  than  arduous,  many  of  the  noblest  officers  of  the  army  and 
of  the  volunteer  corps,  abandoned  its  policy,  and  determined, 
towards  the  close  of  1839,  to  leave  the  Indians  in  their  impene 
trable  strongholds,  and  to  confine  the  operations  of  the  troops 
to  the  protection  of  the  border  settlements.  In  the  general 
orders  of  the  War  Department,  in  November  pf  that  year,  the 
conduct  of  the  commander  was  approved  in  these  terms : 

"  General  Taylor,  by  the  zealous  and  intelligent  discharge 
of  his  duties,  having  given  satisfaction  to  the  Department,  will 
continue  in  command." 

The  plan  of  operations  defined  for  the  campaign  embraced 
the  expulsion  of  the  enemy  from  the  settlements,  by  occupying 
the  country  north  of  a  line  extending  from  Pilatka  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Withlacoochee,  and  thence  along  the  western  coast  to 
the  Apalachicola.  To  assist  the  regulars  the  inhabitants  were 
armed  for  the  protection  of  their  firesides.  General  Taylor's 
skill  and  energies  were  faithfully  exerted  to  fulfil  these  designs, 
but  the  force  at  his  disposal  was  never  adequate.  The  ven 
geance  of  the  Seminole  continued,  at  every  defenceless  point, 
to  be  wreaked  upon  the  white  man ;  and  neither  the  feebleness 


68  RELIEVED    FROM    FLORIDA. 

of  age,  the  innocence  of  childhood,  nor  the  loveliness  of  tender 
sex,  pleaded  exemption  from  frightful  torture  and  death  at  his 
hands.  Having  laboured  four  years  in  this  thankless  field, 
General  Taylor  was  anxious  to  retire  from  it,  and,  at  his  own 
request,  was  relieved  from  the  command  and  succeeded  by 
General  Armistead,  in  April,  1840.  His  course  of  duty,  how 
ever  trying  to  his  feelings,  may  have  aided  in  preparing  him 
for  the  dangers  and  difficulties  of  the  larger  and  more  glorious 
sphere  in  which  he  is  now  to  be  presented.  In  this  he  has 
become  known,  not  only  to  his  countrymen,  but  to  the  world. 
But  had  the  chances  of  life  closed  his  military  career  with  his 
command  in  Florida,  the  intelligent  student  of  his  operations 
there,  would  have  found  enough  to  prove  his  talents,  his  firm 
ness,  and  his  courage,  his  influence  over  others,  and  his  forget- 
fulness  of  himself,  worthy  of  any  position  to  which  he  might 
have  been  called  by  the  exigencies  of  a  great  nation. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

General  Taylor  in  the  South-west — Tender  of  a  public  Dinner — Mexico  in  1822 
— Spirit  of  her  Institutions — Injustice  to  Texas — Revolt  of  Texas — Annexa 
tion  of  Texas — Duty  of  a  Soldier — Taylor  ordered  to  defend  Texas — Con 
ditions  of  the  Order — Invasion  of  Texas  defined — Gen.  Taylor  embarks  for 
Corpus  Christi — Number  of  his  Troops — Ordered  to  Matamoras — His  De 
spatches  from  the  date  of  embarking  for  Corpus  Christi  to  the  breaking  up 
of  the  Camp  at  that  point. 

LEAVING  Florida,  General  Taylor  was  appointed  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  First  Department  of  the  army  in  the  south-west, 
comprehending  the  States  of  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Arkansas, 
and  Louisiana,  his  head-quarters  being  at  Fort  Jesup,  in  the  lat 
ter  State.  Inthe  summer  of  1841,  being  ordered  to  relieve  Gen. 
Arbuckle,  at  Fort  Gibson,  the  compliment  of  a  public  dinner, 
while  on  his  way  thither,  was  tendered  him  by  his  fellow  citi 
zens  of  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  "as  an  expression  of  their 
esteem  for  his  personal  worth  and  meritorious  public  services." 


INSTITUTIONS    OF    MEXICO.  69 

To  the  letter  of  invitation,  Gen.  Taylor  made  answer,  that 
under  ordinary  circumstances  it  would  have  afforded  him  great 
pleasure  to  accept  the  invitation ;  but  having  been  already  de 
tained  on  his  journey  to  the  frontier  an  unusual  length  of  time, 
he  did  not  feel  authorized  to  make,  on  his  own  account,  any 
delay  whatever.  He  was,  therefore,  compelled  to  decline  the 
proffered  hospitality.  In  concluding  his  reply,  he  gave  assur 
ances  of  his  best  exertions  to  secure  the  object  of  his  command 
on  the  frontier.  Time  proved  to  what  extent,  then  so  unfor- 
seen,  he  redeemed  the  pledge.  Five  years  elapsed  before  the 
occasion  was  presented  of  varying  the  monotonous  routine  of 
military  duty  incident  to  national  peace.  The  events  of  thai 
and  a  previous  period,  tending  to  a  breach  of  that  condition, 
may  be  glanced  at,  as  properly  introductory  to  the  new  and 
grand  drama  of  the  war  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico, 
in  which  General  Taylor  has  acted  a  most  illustrious  part.  ^ 
Mexico,  after  a  struggle  worthy  of  the  highest  destiny,  to 
free  herself  from  the  rule  of  Spain,  succeeded,  in  1822,  in  es 
tablishing  her  independence.  Had  the  eyes  of  her  revolution 
ary  chieftains  been  turned  towards  the  United  States,  then 
peaceful,  and  prospering  under  a  political  system  tested  for 
nearly  half  a  century,  they  might  have  learned  the  secret  of 
popular  self-government,  and  have  founded  her  nationality 
upon  a  secure  and  beneficent  basis.  But  it  was  her  misfortune 
to  have  many  Arnolds,  and  many  Burrs,  but  no  Hamiltons,  no 
Washingtons.  Rejecting  the  principle  of  religious  equality 
and  rights,  which  the  framers  of  the  American  Constitution  held 
essential  to  its  vitality,  and  forgetting  the  judicial  safeguards 
of  personal  liberty,  the  authors  of  her  independent  government 
wrought  it  to  an  imperfect  form,  but  breathed  into  it  no  living 
soul.  Inconsistent  with  abstract  j  ustice,  it  could  gain  no  per 
manent  favour  with  the  intelligence  of  the  enlightened  few,  or 
the  affections  of  the  ignorant  mass.  Wanting  the  prestige  of 
time,  and  unequal  to  the  test  of  brief  experiment,  it  became 
the  puppet  of  political  charlatans,  quarrelling  for  the  honour 
and  the  profit  of  the  exhibition,  and  each  in  turn  leaving  it 
more  and  more  abused,  broken,  contemptible,  and  worthless. 


70  REVOLT    OF    TEXAS. 

Among  the  provinces  of  Mexico,  which  regarded  with  early 
aversion  the  anti-republican  features  of  her  constitution,  and 
the  tyranny  of  the  men  who  governed  in  its  name,  was  Texas ; 
at  first,  the  least  significant  in  wealth  or  population.  Its  citi 
zens,  in  1833,  sought  admission  into  the  Mexican  Union  as  a 
sovereign  state,  and,  with  that  view,  sent  a  commissioner  to 
the  federal  government.  Failing  to  obtain  any  answer  to  the 
application,  the  commissioner  advised  his  fellow-citizens  of 
Texas  to  organize  a  state  irrespective  of  its  authority.  The 
letter  containing  this  suggestion  was  disclosed  to  the  go 
vernment  ;  and  its  author,  while  returning  to  his  constituents, 
was  seized,  and  imprisoned  for  many  months,  without  infor 
mation  of  the  cause  of  his  arrest.  The  wrong  to  him,  was  felt 
to  be  equally  a  wrong  to  them.  Mexico,  by  her  weak  and 
wicked  rulers,  instead  of  pruning  discontent  in  Texas  with  a 
gentle  hand,  scattered  the  seeds  of  hatred,  which  sprang  up  with 
magic  vigour,  soon  overshadowing  her  own  name  and  strength. 
Less  than  two  years  after  the  outrage  committed  upon  the  Texan 
envoy,  the  administration  of  Mexico  was  in  the  hands  of  a 
military  despot.  The  local  government  of  her  states  was  an 
nihilated  by  a  formal  decree,  and  the  institution  of  central 
tyranny  asserted  under  the  auspices  of  twenty  thousand  mus 
kets.  A  minister  of  the  new  rule,  with  a  due  proportion  of 
these  aids,  appeared  in  Texas  to  confirm  its  virtue.  The 
menace  of  arms  was  met  by  arms.  On  the  27th  of  Septem 
ber,  when  the  brightness  of  a  southern  summer  was  departing 
before  the  mists  of  autumn,  their  first  clash  was  heard  ;  and, 
from  that  day,  the  glory  and  the  power  of  Mexico  departed 
from  Texas.  The  assaulted  province  drove  the  invaders, 
beaten  and  disgraced,  from  her  borders.  Her  cause  invited 
adventurous  spirits  from  the  United  States.  Texas  declared 
herself  free  and  independent.  Mexico,  with  her  best  general, 
and  thousands  of  her  veteran  troops,  advanced  upon  the  infant 
republic,  resolved  upon  its  ruin.  But  the  boast  was  vain,  the 
effort  abortive.  Alarno  told  how  the  soldiers  of  Texas  could 
die;  San  Jacinto  how  they  could  conquer.  Still  Mexico 
learned  not  wisdom.  Having  eyes,  she  saw  not ;  having 


ANNEXATION    OF    TEXAS.  71 

ears,  she  heard  not.  But,  like  a  hot-tempered  child,  who 
cries  and  throws  about  his  limbs  for  the  toy  which  he  has  wil 
fully  broken,  she  continued  to  exclaim,  and  to  brandish  her 
arms,  while  the  world  looked  piteously  or  contemptuously  upon 
the  futile  exhibition. 

Texas,  feeling  conscious  of  ability  to  maintain  her  sove 
reignty,  proceeded  to  organize  a  government  based  upon  that 
of  the  United  States.  Ambitious,  however,  of  accomplishing 
in  a  lustre  the  work  of  a  generation,  her  financial  affairs  became 
embarrassed,  and  her  sagacious  people,  to  repair  the  error, 
soon  agitated  the  question  of  annexation  with  the  American 
Union.  A  proposition,  to  this  effect,  was  rejected,  as  involv 
ing  bad  faith  with  Mexico,  which  still  asserted  authority  over 
the  revolted  province,  and  promised,  from  time  to  time,  to  re 
duce  it  to  subjection.  A  state  of  nominal  war  existed,  without 
any  act  to  prove  its  reality. 

From  year  to  year,  the  question  was  agitated  in  the  United 
States,  with  increasing  warmth, — the  party  opposed  to  it  main 
taining  a  majority  in  Congress.  Mexico,  at  last,  seriously 
fearing  the  consummation,  consented  conditionally  to  acknow 
ledge  the  independence  of  Texas.  But  the  compliance  yielded 
with  so  late  and  poor  a  grace,  failed  of  its  object.  The  act  of 
annexation  was  confirmed,  by  Congress,  on  the  1st  day  of 
March,  1845 ;  and  thus,  ten  years  from  the  time  that  Texas 
first  raised  an  arm  to  repel  the  force  of  a  despotic  Mexican, 
she  was  lost  to  Mexico  forever.  When  the  consummation  of 
the  act  became  known  to  the  latter,  the  resolution  was  avowed 
of  resisting  it,  and  preparations  for  subjugating  the  country 
north  of  the  Rio  Grande  were  declared  anew.  Preliminary 
measures  had  already  been  adopted  under  apprehensions  of 
the  event,  which  then  became  certain.  The  Mexican  forces, 
on  the  right  of  that  river,  had  been  increased,  and  Monterey, 
Matamoros,  and  Mier,  placed  in  a  better  condition  of  defence. 

The  limits,  if  not  the  objects,  of  this  work  forbid  any  dis 
cussion,  receiving  its  tone  from  attachment  to  a  political  party, 
of  the  immediate  causes  of  the  war  between  the  United  States 
and  Mexico.  It  is  a  clear  proposition  that  the  safety  and  inde- 


72       TAYLOR  ORDERED  TO  TEXAS. 

pendence  of  any  nation  at  war  with  another,  are  closely  allied 
with  the  implicit  obedience  of  its  professional  soldiery  to  the 
orders  of  their  government.  Whenever  a  general  may  pause 
to  consider  the  policy  of  a  contest,  in  which  he  is  directed  to 
take  part  by  the  civil  power  to  which  he  is  subordinate,  reliance 
upon  the  appeal  to  arms  for  protection  from  a  foreign  state  is 
at  an  end.  The  military  power  is  then  ascendant  at  home,  and 
liberty  is  lost.  The  patriotic  and  consistent  commander  has  a 
single  and  simple  duty  to  perform — to  follow  the  instructions 
._  Jjf  and  accomplish  the  purposes  of  his  government.  He  cannot 
look  behind  such  instructions,  being  conformable  to  the  rules 
of  civilized  warfare,  nor  can  others  do  so  in  judging  his  char 
acter  and  conduct. 

It  is  undeniable  that  a  large  portion,  probably  a  majority, 
of  the  people  of  the  United  States  have  been  from  the  first 
opposed  to  the  war  with  Mexico,  and  to  most  of  the  federal 
measures  which  led  to  it.  But  there  can  be  few,  however 
earnest  in  their  condemnation  of  the  government,  who  do  not 
justly  draw  the  distinction  between  its  acts  and  responsibility, 
and  those  of  the  men  who  have  been  entrusted  with  the  occu 
pation  and  invasion  of  the  territory  over  which  Mexico  still 
asserts  her  sovereignty.  It  may  be  said  particularly  of  General 
Taylor,  that  the  war  in  its  inception  found  no  favour  in  his 
eyes.  He  was  selected,  however,  to  take  the  field  in  the  out 
set,  and  before  war  had  been  declared,  or  any  act  of  hostility 
committed  on  either  side.  From  that  moment  he  has  been 
devoted  to  the  one  object  of  reducing  the  enemy  to  terms  of 
peace. 

In  May,  1845,  General  Taylor  was  instructed  by  the  Secre 
tary  of  War  to  have  the  forces  under  his  command,  or  which 
might  be  assigned  to  it,  put  into  a  position  where  they  might 
most  promptly  and  efficiently  act  in  defence  of  Texas  in  the 
event  of  such  action  becoming  necessary.  The  instructions 
of  the  Department  under  this  date  were  confidential,  and  were 
so  worded  as  to  imply  clearly  an  apprehension,  that  the  conse 
quence  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  might  be  a  collision  with 
Mexico.  The  Secretary  stated,  that  as  soon  as  the  Texan 


INSTRUCTIONS  OF  GOVERNMENT.    73 

Congress  should  assent  to  the  act,  and  a  convention  should  as 
semble  and  accept  the  terms  offered  in  the  joint  annexation 
resolutions  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  Texas  would 
be  regarded  "  as  part  of  the  United  States,  so  far  as  to  be  en 
titled  from  this  government  a  defence  from  foreign  invasion 
and  Indian  incursions."     General  Taylor  was  accordingly  di 
rected  to  keep  his  command  in  readiness  for  this  duty.     The     ^  * 
anticipation  of  difficulty  with  Mexico  was  further  indicated  by  in-     • . 
structions  to  General  Taylor  to  open  a  correspondence  with  the 
authorities  of  Texas,  or  any  diplomatic  agent  of  the  United 
States  residing  therein,  with  a  view  to  information  and  advice    TV  "* 
in  respect  to  the  common  Indian  enemy,  «  as  well  as  to  any 
foreign  power ;"  and  also  to  employ  his  forces  in  defence  of 
the  Texan  territory,  if  invaded  by  «  a  foreign  power,"  and  to 
expel  the  invaders. 

General  Taylor  was  thus  apprised  of  the  service  which  might 
be  expected  of  him.  In  July  of  the  same  year,  1845,  he  was 
informed  by  the  War  Department,  that  the  acceptance  by  Texas 
of  the  terms  of  annexation  would  probably  be  formally  made 
by  the  Congress  of  that  Republic  on  the  4th  of  that  month,  and 
in  anticipation  of  that  event,  he  was  instructed  to  make  an 
immediate  forward  movement,  with  the  troops  under  his  com 
mand,  and  advance  to  the  mouth  of  the  Sabine,  or  to  such 
other  point  on  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  or  its  navigable  waters,  as 
might  be  most  convenient  for  an  embarkation,  at  the  proper 
time,  for  the  western  frontier  of  Texas. 

The  most  expeditious  route  was  recommended.  The  force 
named  for  this  duty  was  the  3d  and  4th  regiments  of  infantry, 
and  seven  companies  of  the  2d  regiment  of  dragoons.  Two 
companies  of  the  4th  infantry  were  ordered  to  join  their  regi 
ments.  The  artillery  was  ordered  from  New  Orleans. 

The  ultimate  point,  then  mentioned,  of  Taylor's  destination, 
was  the  western  frontier  of  Texas,  on,  or  near,  the  Rio 
Grande  del  Norte,  where  he  was  ordered  to  select  and  occupy 
such  a  site  as  would  consist  with  the  health  of  the  troops,  and 
be  best  adapted  to  repel  invasion,  and  to  protect  what,  in  the 
7 


\ , 

74  EMBARCATION    FOR    TEXAS. 

event  of  annexation,  would  be  the  western  border.  The  de 
fence  of  the  territory  of  Texas  was  defined  as  the  limit  of  his 
action,  unless  Mexico  should  declare  war  against  the  United 
States. 

•^4P4.:These  movements  to  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  and  the  preparations 
to  embark  for  the  western  frontier  of  Texas,  were  ordered  to 
be  made  without  any  delay  :  but  a  landing  was  not  to  be  ef 
fected,  on  that  frontier,  until  the  due  acceptance  of  Texas,  of 
the  proffered  terms  of  annexation,  had  been  ascertained. 

In  reply  to  inquiries  by  General  Taylor  of  the  War  Depart 
ment  respecting  the  position  he  should  take,  he  was  directed, 
generally,  to  be  governed  by  circumstances,  to  avoid  all  ag 
gressive  measures,  and  to  hold  his  force  ready  to  protect  the 
territory  of  Texas  "  to  the  extent  that  it  had  been  occupied  by 
the  people  of  Texas."  The  Rio  Grande  was  indicated,  by 
^  the  secretary,  as  the  boundary  between  Mexico  and  Texas,  to 
which  the  Army  of  Occupation  was  to  approach,  as  nearly  as 
prudence  would  permit.  For  this  purpose,  it  was  necessary  to 
pass  the  Nueces. 

,  A  letter  from  the  department,  dated  in  the  following  month, 
contains  this  passage  : 

"  Should  Mexico  assemble  a  large  body  of  troops,  on  the 
Rio  Grande,  and  cross  it  with  a  considerable  force,  such  a 
movement  must  be  regarded  as  an  invasion  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  commencement  of  hostilities.  You  will,  of 
course,  use  all  the  authority  which  has  been,  or  may  be,  given 
you,  to  meet  such  a  state  of  things.  Texas  must  be  protected 
from  hostile  invasion,  and  for  that  purpose,  you  will  of  course 
employ,  to  the  utmost  extent,  all  the  means  you  possess,  or 
can  command." 

At  the  same  time  that  these  instructions  were  sent  to  Gene 
ral  Taylor,  a  naval  force  was  despatched  to  the  gulf  of  Mexico 
to  aid  him  in  any  hostile  operations  which  might  occur.  To 
this  result,  affairs  were  rapidly  tending. 

Pursuant  to  these  instructions,  General  Taylor  proceeded,  in 
July,  1845,  to  New  Orleans,  whence  he  embarked,  with  a 


THE  ARMY  AT  CORPUS  CHRISTI.     75 

force  of  fifteen  hundred  men,  and  arrived,  early  in  the  following 
month,  at  St.  Joseph's  Island.  From  this  point,  he  embarked 
again  for  Corpus  Christi,  where  he  established  his  head  quar 
ters.  In  September,  an  enquiry  was  made  by  the  United 
States'  consul  at  Mexico,  under  authority  of  the  government, 
whether  a  minister  would  be  received,  by  Mexico,  with  powers 
to  settle  all  points  in  dispute  between  the  two  countries.  A 
favourable  answer  was  received,  and  the  minister  was  ap 
pointed.  On  his  arrival  at  the  Mexican  capital,  a  revolution, 
headed  by  Paredes,  was  in  progress,  which  proved  successful. 
The  new  government  refused  to  acknowledge  the  American  tj 
envoy,  except  as  a  special  agent.  The  consequence  was  the 
abandonment  of  negotiations  through  this  medium.  Pending 
this  attempt  at  a  peaceable  adjustment  of  difficulties,  the 
winter  had  passed,  General  Taylor  remaining  encamped  at 
Corpus  Christi.  He  had  been  reinforced,  soon  after  his  ar 
rival,  by  seven  companies  of  the  7th  Infantry,  under  Major 
Brown,  and  two  companies  of  volunteer  artillery,  under  Major 
Gaily,  with  eight  field-pieces.  On  the  8th  of  March,  1846, 
the  camp  at  Corpus  Christi  was  broken  up,  and  the  advance 
of  the  army,  consisting  of  Major  Ringgold's  Light  Artillery, 
and  the  cavalry,  the  whole  commanded  by  Colonel  Twiggs, 
took  up  the  line  of  march  for  Matamoras.  On  the  three  ensu 
ing  days,  the  brigades  of  infantry  followed.  The  siege-train, 
and  a  field-battery,  were  sent  by  water  to  Point  Isabel,  with  a 
corps  of  engineers,  and  the  officers  of  ordnance,  under  the 
command  of  Major  Munroe. 

As  the  correspondence  of  General  Taylor,  while  in  com 
mand  of  the  Army  of  Occupation,  is  necessary  not  only  to  a 
clear  understanding  of  his  views  and  early  movements,  but  to 
afford  that  just  exposition  of  his  character,  which  is  essential 
to  a  faithful  biography,  the  annexed  letters  and  despatches  to 
the  Adjutant  General,  are  inserted  in  their  proper  order.  Con 
nected  with  the  preceding  narrative,  they  require  no  comment. 

>  *' 


*  .  «  *.- 

76  GEN.  TAYLOR'S  DESPATCHES. 

'  *•   1E&?  *'• '  V 

Head-Quarters  1st  Military  Department. 
New  Orleans,  La.,  July  20,  1845. 

SIR  :  I  respectfully  acknowledge  your  communication  of 
July  8,  covering  the  instructions  of  the  Secretary  of  War  of  the 
same  date,  relative  to  the  Mexican  settlements  on  this  side  of 
the  Rio  Grande.  Those  instructions  will  be  closely  obeyed  ; 
and  the  department  may  rest  assured  that  I  will  take  no  step 
to  interrupt  the  friendly  relations  between  the  United  States 
and  Mexico.  I  am  gratified  at  receiving  these  instructions,  as 
they  confirm  my  views,  previously  communicated,  in  regard  to 
the  proper  line  to  be  occupied  at  present  by  our  troops. 

I  am  sir  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

',*  

Head-Quarters  Army  of  Occupation. 
Steamship  Alabama,  Aransas  Pass, 

Texas,  July  28,  1845. 

SIR  :  I  respectfully  report  my  arrival  at  this  place  on  the  25th 
instant,  with  eight  companies  of  the  3d  infantry,  it  having  been 
found  necessary  to  leave  two  companies  of  that  regiment,  to 
be  brought  over  in  other  transports. 

The  troops  are  temporarily  established  on  St.  Joseph's  Island. 
I  am  waiting  the  report  of  a  boat  expedition  sent  to  Corpus 
Christi  Bay  before  I  determine  on  the  site  of  an  encampment. 
I  hope  to  receive  the  necessary  information  in  the  course  of  the 
day,  when  I  shall  immediately  commence  the  removal  of  the 
3d  infantry  to  the  point  selected.  The  position  will  probably 
be  "  Live  Oak  Point,"  in  Aransas  Bay,  some  ten  miles  from 
our  present  position.  I  am  very  anxious  to  establish  myself  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Neuces,  but  the  extreme  shoalness  of  the 
water  will,  I  fear,  present  an  insuperable  obstacle,  unless  we 
can  procure  lighters  of  much  lighter  draught  than  those  we 
have  at  present. 

The  difficulties  of  effecting  a  debarcation  on  this  coast,  and 
of  establishing  depots  for  supplying  the  army,  are  much  greater 


DESPATCHES    CONTINUED.  77 

than  I  anticipated,  and  will  render  our  operations  at  once  em 
barrassing  and  expensive.  Between  Pass  Cavello  and  Brazos 
Santiago,  there  is  no  entrance  for  vessels  drawing  more  than 
seven  or  eight  feet ;  and  the  prevailing  winds  render  the  opera 
tion  of  lightening  extremely  uncertain  and  hazardous.  We 
have  been  favoured  with  fine  weather,  and,  should  it  continue, 
the  other  transports,  which  may  now  be  expected,  will  be  ena 
bled  to  discharge  without  difficulty. 

We  had  a  very  favourable  run  from  New  Orleans ;  and  I  am 
happy  to  state  that  the  health  of  the  command  was  greatly  im 
proved  by  the  voyage.  The  eight  companies  have  scarcely 
any  sickness  at  this  time. 

The  day  before  leaving  New  Orleans,  I  received  from  Major 
Donelson  a  communication  dated  at  Austin,  on  the  7th  of  July, 
informing  me  that  the  convention  had  unanimously  accepted 
the  proposition  of  annexation,  and  suggested  that  two  compa 
nies  should  be  posted  at  Austin.  I  still  deem  it  best  to  con 
centrate  my  force  until  our  relations  with  Mexico  shall  become 
settled,  and  until  the  country  can  be  examined,  and  the  best 
mode  of  supply  ascertained. 

I  hear  nothing  important  from  the  Mexican  frontier.  Some 
Indian  depredations  are  committed  from  time  to  time  near  Cor 
pus  Christi,  and  will  claim  my  first  attention  after  I  can  get 
established. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  -servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

— — — .  •    *  : 

*  .    • 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  August  15,  1845. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honour  to  report  that,  by  New  Orleans 
papers  of  the  7th  instant,  I  have  received  intelligence  of  the 
preparatory  steps  taken  by  Mexico  towards  a  declaration  of 
war  against  the  United  States.  I  shall  spare  no  exertions  to 
meet  suitably  this  probable  change  in  the  relations  between 
the  two  countries ;  and  the  additional  force  ordered  to  join 
7* 


78  DESPATCHES     CONTINUED. 

me,  as  announced  in  your  communication  of  July  30,  will,  I 
trust,  enable  me  to  do  something  more  than  maintain  a  merely 
defensive  attitude  on  the  Neuces.  This  will  depend  upon  the 
demonstrations  made  by  Mexico  along  the  Rio  Grande,  in  re 
gard  to  which  the  Secretary  of  War  has  solicited  a  report.  I 
am  enabled  to  say,  upon  information  which  is  regarded  as  au 
thentic,  that  General  Arista  was  to  leave  Monterey  on  the  4th 
of  this  month  for  Matamoros  with  1500  men  —  500  being 
cavalry.  I  learn,  from  the  same  source,  that  there  are  500 
regular  troops  at  Matamoros.  In  regard  to  the  force  at  other 
points  on  the  Rio  Grande,  except  the  militia  of  the  country,  I 
have  no  information ;  nor  do  I  hear  that  the  reported  concen 
tration  at  Matamoros  is  for  any  purpose  of  invasion.  I  have 
but  just  arrived  at  this  place,  and  hope  in  a  few  days  to  be 
able  to  obtain  more  full  and  precise  intelligence  concerning  the 
movements  of  the  Mexicans.  I  shall  not  fail  to  communicate 
promptly  to  the  department  all  such  intelligence  upon  which  I 
think  reliance  can  be  placed. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 


Head  Quarters  Army  of  Occupation, 
Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  August  19, 1845. 

SIR  :  I  respectfully  enclose  for  the  information  of  the  depart 
ment,  a  copy  of  a  letter  addressed  by  me  to  the  president  of 
Texas,  and  forwarded  to  him  by  special  express  on  the  17th 
instant.  I  have  deemed  it  proper  to  make  this  communication 
to  President  Jones,  in  consequence  of  the  desire  manifested  by 
the  authorities  of  Texas  to  have  a  garrison  established  at  once 
at  Austin.  As  I  cannot  consent  to  detach  any  portion  of  my 
command  while  a  superior  Mexican  force  is  probably  concen 
trating  in  my  front,  and  as  I  still  feel  bound  to  extend  every 
assistance  compatible  with  a  successful  prosecution  of  the  main 
object  of  the  expedition,  towards  putting  the  frontier  in  a  suita 
ble  state  of  defence,!  have  judged  it  prudent  to  make  the  sug- 


1 

DESPATCHES  CONTINUED.         79 

^  ^ 

gestions  and  recommendations  which  you  will  find  in  the  en 
closed  letter.  Trusting  that  they  will  meet  the  approbation  of 
the  War  Department, 

I  remain,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 


Head  Quarters  Army  of  Occupation, 
Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  August  30,  1845. 

SIR  :  I  respectfully  report  the  arrival  at  this  point  of  seven 
companies  of  the  7th  infantry  under  Major  Brown,  and  two 
companies  of  volunteer  artillery  under  Major  Gaily.  Major 
Seawell's  company,  I  am  informed,  was  ordered  back  to  Baton 
Rouge  by  General  Gaines,  and  some  small  detachments  of  that 
regiment  were  also  left  at  several  posts.  I  have  retained  one 
company  as  a  guard  for  the  depot  at  St.  Joseph  Island. 

The  battalion  of  volunteer  artillery  has  a  fine  battery  of  eight 
pieces  —  two  twelves  and  six.  sixes,  completely  equipped  in 
every  respect.  The  officers  are  zealous,  and  the  men  seem  to 
be  quite  well  instructed  in  their  duties.  In  case  of  need,  I 
look  for  valuable  service  from  this  battalion. 

I  have  just  received  a  communication  from  President  Jones, 
under  date  of  the  23d  instant,  notifying  me  that  he  had  taken 
preparatory  steps  towards  organizing  a  volunteer  force  of  1000 
men  to  assist  me  if  necessary.  This  matter  will  form  the  sub 
ject  of  a  special  communication  to  your  office  in  a  few  days. 

Apprehending  that  the  erroneous  impressions  current  in 
New  Orleans  in  regard  to  our  situation,  might  induce  Gene 
ral  Gaines  to  order  the  muster  of  a  battalion  or  brigade  of 
infantry,  I  addressed  a  communication  to  his  staff  officer  by  the 
steamship  Alabama,  expressing  my  thanks  for  the  reinforce 
ment  of  the  volunteer  battalion  of  artillery,  but  with  the  hope 
that  no  more  volunteers  would  be  sent  without  a  requisition 
from  me.  That  communication  will  reach  New  Orleans  to 
night  or  to-morrow,  in  time,  I  trust,  to  stop  the  employment 
of  any  more  volunteers. 

• 


.         > 


80         DESPATCHES  CONTINUED. 

We  have  no  news  from  the  Rio  Grande.  Idle  stories  are 
brought  in  from  that  quarter,  but  with  the  means  of  accurate 
information  which  we  now  possess,  I  do  not  deem  it  necessary 
to  repeat  them. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  October  4,  1845. 

SIR  :  I  beg  leave  to  suggest  some  considerations  in  relation 
to  the  present  position  of  our  force,  and  the  dispositions  which 
may  become  necessary  for  the  more  effectual  prosecution  of  the 
objects  for  which  it  has  been  concentrated.  It  will  be  recol 
lected  that  the  instructions  of  June  15,  issued  by  Mr.  Bancroft, 
then  acting  Secretary  of  War,  directed  me  to  "select  and  oc 
cupy,  on  or  near  the  Rio  Grande,  such  a  site  as  will  consist 
with  the  health  of  the  troops,  and  will  be  best  adapted  to  repel 
invasion,"  &c.  Brazos  Santiago  is  the  nearest  entrance  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande ;  and  Point  Isabel,  within  that  en 
trance,  and  twenty-one  miles  from  Matamoros,  would  have  ful 
filled  more  completely  than  any  other  position  the  conditions 
imposed  by  the  Secretary.  But  we  had  no  artillery,  no  engi 
neer  force  or  appliances,  and  but  a  moderate  amount  of  in 
fantry;  and  the  occupation  of  Point  Isabel,  under  these  cir 
cumstances,  and  with  at  least  the  possibility  of  resistance  from 
the  Mexicans,  might  have  compromised  the  safety  of  the  com 
mand.  I  therefore  determined  to  take  up  the  next  accessible 
position  in  the  rear,  which  is  the  mouth  of  the  Neuces  river. 
All  the  information  which  I  could  obtain  before  leaving  New 
Orleans,  seemed  to  point  to  Corpus  Christi  as  the  most  suitable 
point  for  concentration ;  and,  although  before  the  President's 
instructions  of  July  30  reached  me,  I  would  have  preferred  a 
position  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  yet  a  careful  examination 
of  the  country  had  already  convinced  me  that  none  could  be 
found  combining  so  many  advantages  as  this.  Every  day's 


DESPATCHES  CONTINUED.        81 

experience  has  confirmed  these  impressions.  Corpus  Christ! 
is  healthy,  easily  supplied,  and  well  situated  to  hold  in  obser 
vation  the  course  of  the  Rio  Grande  from  Matamoros  to  La 
redo—being  about  150  miles  from  several  points  on  the  river. 
I  have  reason  to  believe,  moreover,  that  a  salutary  moral  effect 
has  been  exercised  upon  the  Mexicans.  Their  traders  are  con 
tinually  carrying  home  the  news  of  our  position  and  increasing 
numbers,  and  are  confessedly  struck  by  the  spectacle  of  a  large 
camp  of  well-appointed  and  disciplined  troops,  accompanied 
by  perfect  security  to  their  persons  and  property,  instead  of  the 
impressment  and  pillage  to  which  they  are  subject  in  their  own 
country.  For  these  reasons,  our  position  thus  far  has,  I  think, 
been  the  best  possible  ;  but,  now  that  the  entire  force  will  soon 
be  concentrated,  it  may  well  be  a  question  whether  the  views 
of  government  will  be  best  carried  out  by  our  remaining  at 
this  point.  It  is  with  great  deference  that  I  make  any  sugges 
tions  on  topics  which  may  become  matter  of  delicate  negotia 
tion:  but  if  our  government,  in  settling  the  question  of 
boundary,  makes  the  line  of  the  Rio  Grande  an  ultimatum,  I 
cannot  doubt  that  the  settlement  will  be  greatly  facilitated  and 
hastened  by  our  taking  possession  at  once  of  one  or  two  suita 
ble  points  on  or  quite  near  that  river.  Our  strength  and  state 
of  preparation  should  be  displayed  in  a  manner  not  to  be  mis 
taken.  However  salutary  may  be  the  effect  produced  upon 
the  border  people  by  our  presence  here,  we  are  too  far  from 
the  frontier  to  impress  the  government  of  Mexico  with  our 
readiness  to  vindicate,  by  force  of  arms,  if  necessary,  our  title 
to  the  country  as  far  as  the  Rio  Grande.  The  "  army  of  oc 
cupation"  will,  in  a  few  days,  be  concentrated  at  this  point,  in 
condition  for  vigorous  and  efficient  service.  Mexico  having 
as  yet  made  no  positive  declaration  of  war,  or  committed  any 
overt  act  of  hostilities,  I  do  not  feel  at  liberty,  under  my  in 
structions,  particularly  those  of  July  8,  to  make  a  forward 
movement  to  the  Rio  Grande  without  authority  from  the  War 
Department. 

In  case  a  forward  movement  should  be  ordered  or  author 
ized,  I  would  recommend  the  occupation  of  Point  Isabel  and 


82  DESPATCHES     CONTINUED. 

Laredo,  as  best  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  observing  the 
course  of  the  river,  and  covering  the  frontier  settlements  of 
Texas.  Point  Isabel  is  accessible  by  water,  and  can  be  safely 
occupied  by  two  brigades  of  infantry,  with  a  suitable  force  of 
field  artillery.  On  the  arrival  of  the  steamer  Harney,  I  shall 
order  a  careful  reconnoissance  of  Brazos  Santiago,  as  a  neces 
sary  preliminary  measure  to  the  occupation  of  Point  Isabel. 
To  occupy  Laredo  will  require  a  land  march  from  this  point. 
Supplies  may  probably  be  transported  by  water  as  high  as  San 
Patricio,  and  possibly  to  the  junction  of  the  Rio  Frio  with  the 
Nueces.  I  propose  to  establish  a  depot  on  the  Nueces  river, 
probably  at  the  crossing  of  the  San  Antonia  and  Laredo  road, 
from  which  to  operate  towards  the  Rio  Grande.  You  will 
perceive,  from  my  "special  orders"  No. 24,  that  a  reconnois 
sance  has  been  ordered  in  that  direction.  A  brigade  of  in 
fantry,  with  the  cavalry,  and  a  battery  or  two  of  field  artillery, 
will  be  sufficient  for  the  occupation  of  Laredo.  That  town  is 
on  the  left  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  possesses  the  military 
advantage  of  holding  in  observation  the  main  route  from  the 
interior  of  Mexico  through  Monterey  to  Matamoros. 

In  case  it  should  be  found  impracticable  to  establish  a  suita 
ble  depot  on  the  Nueces,  the  entire  force,  after  strengthening 
San  Antonia,  might  be  thrown  forward  to  Point  Isabel,  where 
it  could  be  readily  supplied,  and  held  in  readiness  for  any 
further  service. 

I  have  deemed  it  my  duty  to  make  the  above  suggestions. 
Should  they  be  favourably  considered,  and  instructions  based 
upon  them,  I  will  thank  you  to  send  the  latter  in  duplicate  to 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Hunt — one  copy  to  be  despatched  direct, 
without  delay  ;  the  other  to  be  sent  via  Galveston,  should  a 
steamer  be  running  to  that  port  from  New  Orleans. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

P.  S. — It  is  proper  to  add,  that  should  any  auxiliary  force 
be  required,  I  propose  to  draw  it  wholly  from  Texas.  I  do 


DESPATCHES    CONTINUED. 

not  conceive  that  it  will  become  necessary,  under  any  circum 
stances,  to  call  for  volunteers  from  the  United  States. 

Z.  T. 


Head  Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation, 
Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  November  7,  1845. 

SIR  :  I  respectfully  enclose  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Commo 
dore  Conner,  commanding  the  home  squadron,  which  I  received 
by  the  "  Saratoga,"  sloop  of  war,  on  the  5th  instant.  The  in 
telligence  communicated  by  the  commodore  will,  doubtless, 
reach  the  seat  of  government  long  before  the  receipt  of  this 
letter. 

The  communication  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated  Oc 
tober  16,  was  received  and  acknowledged  on  the  1st  and  2d 
instant.  I  purposely  deferred  a  detailed  reply  to  the  various 
points  embraced  in  that  communication  until  I  could  receive 
an  answer  to  mine  of  October  4,  which  covered  (at  least  in 
part)  the  same  ground.  The  intelligence  from  Mexico,  how 
ever,  tends  to  modify,  in  some  degree,  the  views  expressed  in 
that  communication.  The  position  now  occupied  by  the  troops 
may,  perhaps,  be  the  best  while  negotiations  are  pending,  or 
at  any  rate  until  a  disposition  shall  be  manifested  by  Mexico 
to  protract  them  unreasonably.  Under  the  supposition  that 
such  may  be  the  view  of  the  department,  I  shall  make  no  move 
ment  from  this  point,  except  for  the  purpose  of  examining  the 
country,  until  further  instructions  are  received.  You  will  per 
ceive,  from  my  orders,  that  reconnoissances  are  almost  con 
stantly  in  the  field,  the  officers  of  engineers  and  topographical 
engineers  rendering  valuable  service  on  those  duties.  I  refer 
you  to  the  reports  made  by  those  officers  to  the  chiefs  of  their 
own  bureaux  for  the  information  which  is  thus  procured  in  re 
lation  to  the  country.  An  examination  of  the  harbour  of  Bra 
zos  Santiago  will  be  ordered  in  a  few  days — as  soon  as  a  proper 
vessel  shall  become  disposable  for  that  service. 

In  case  no  movement  is  made  this  season  for  the  Rio  Grande, 
I  may  find  it  necessary  to  detach  a  portion  of  the  army  a  short 
distance  into  the  interior,  where  wood  can  be  more  readily 
procured  than  here.  But  in  no  case  do  I  deem  it  necessary  to 


84         DESPATCHES  CONTINUED. 

hut  the  troops.  Sheds,  with  platforms,  on  which  to  pitch  the 
tents,  were  extensively  used  in  camps  of  position  in  Florida, 
and  will,  I  cannot  doubt,  form  a  sufficient  protection  here. 

On  the  hypothesis  of  an  early  adjustment  of  the  boundary, 
and  the  consequent  establishment  of  permanent  frontier  posts, 
I  cannot  urge  too  strongly  upon  the  department  the  necessity 
jA  of  occupying  those  posts  before  the  warm  weather  shall  set  in. 
A  large  amount  of  sickness  is,  I  fear,  to  be  apprehended,  with 
•every  precaution  that  can  be  taken ;  but  the  information  which 
I  obtain  leads  me  to  believe  that  a  summer  movement  would 
be  attended  with  great  expense  of  health  and  life.  As  in  Flo 
rida,  the  winter  is  the  best  season  for  operations  in  Texas. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  February  4,  1846. 

SIR  :  I  respectfully  acknowledge  the  communication  of  the 
Secretary  of  War,  dated  January  13th,  and  containing  the  in 
structions  of  the  President  to  move  forward  with  my  force  to 
the  Rio  Grande.  I  shall  lose  no  time  in  making  the  necessary 
preparations  for  carrying  out  those  instructions. 

The  occupation  of  Point  Isabel  or  Brazos  Santiago  as  a 
depot  will  be  indispensable.  That  point,  and  a  position  on  or 
near  the  river  opposite  Matamoros,  will,  I  think,  answer  all 
present  purposes.  At  any  rate,  I  shall  not  separate  my  force 
further  until  the  position  of  affairs  shall  render  it  entirely  safe 
to  do  so. 

I  propose  to  abandon  this  position  entirely,  as  soon  after  our 
march  as  the  stores,  hospital,  &c.,  can  be  transferred  to  St. 
Joseph's  Island.  It  will  be  necessary  to  keep  up  an  establish 
ment  at  that  point  for  the  present,  although  our  supplies  will 
come  to  Point  Isabel  direct  from  New  Orleans. 

In  reply  to  the  call  of  the  Secretary  for  information  as  to 
what  means,  if  any,  will  be  required  "to  enforce  and  maintain 
our  common  right  to  navigate"  the  Rio  Grande,  I  would  re- 


DESPATCHES    CONTINUED.  85 

spectfully  state  that,  until  I  reach  the  river  and  ascertain  the 
condition  of  things  in  the  frontier  States  of  Mexico,  temper  of 
the  people,  &c.,  I  cannot  give  any  satisfactory  answer  to  the 
question.  I  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  people  re 
siding  on  the  river  are  well  disposed  towards  our  government. 
Our  advance  to  the  Rio  Grande  will  itself  produce  a  powerful 
effect,  and  it  may  be  that  the  common  navigation  of  the  river 
will  not  be  disputed.  It  is  very  important  to  us,  and  will  be 
indispensable  when  posts  are  established  higher  up,  as  must 
ultimately  be  the  case. 

I  shall  not  call  for  any  militia  force  in  addition  to  what  I 
already  have,  unless  unforeseen  circumstances  shall  render  its 
employment  necessary. 

I  beg  leave  again  to  call  the  attention  of  the  Department  to 
the  necessity  of  having  our  movement  and  position  at  Brazos 
Santiago  covered  by  a  small  armed  vessel.  I  deem  this  vitally 
important,  and  hope  it  will  meet  with  favourable  consideration. 

We  have  no  news  from  the  interior  of  Mexico  more  recent 
than  that  derived  from  the  New  Orleans  papers  of  the  26th  of 
January. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  February  26,  1846. 

SIR  :  I  have  to  report  that  the  preparations  for  a  forward 
movement  of  this  command  are  now  nearly  completed.  The 
examinations  spoken  of  in  my  report  of  the  16th  instant  have 
shown  the  practicability  of  both  routes — by  the  main  land  and 
by  Padre  Island.  The  reconnoissance  of  Padre  Island  ex 
tended  to  its  southern  extremity,  and  included  the  harbour  of 
Brazos  Santiago  and  Point  Isabel;  that  of  the  main  route 
reached  to  a  point  near  the  Little  Colorado.  A  depot,  with 
four  days'  forage,  and  subsistence  for  the  army,  will  be  thrown 
forward  some  forty  miles,  to  the  Santa  Gertrudes.  A  detach- 
8 


86        DESPATCHES  CONTINUED. 

ment  of  two  companies,  to  establish  and  cover  this  depot,  will 
march,  on  the  28th,  under  Brevet  Major  Graham.  In  about 
a  week  thereafter,  say  the  7th  of  March,  the  cavalry  will  march, 
to  be  followed,  at  intervals  of  one  day,  by  the  brigades  of  in 
fantry.  By  the  25th  of  March,  at  latest,  I  hope  to  be  in  posi 
tion  on  the  Rio  Grande. 

I  have  taken  occasion  to  represent  to  some  citizens  of  Mata- 
moros,  who  were  here  with  a  large  number  of  mules  for  sale, 
and  who  are  represented  to  have  considerable  influence  at 
home,  that  the  United  States  government,  in  occupying  the  Rio 
Grande,  has  no  motive  of  hostility  towards  Mexico,  and  that 
the  army  will,  in  no  case,  go  beyond  the  river,  unless  hostilities 
should  be  commenced  by  the  Mexicans  themselves ;  that  the 
Mexicans,  living  on  this  side,  will  not  be  disturbed  in  any  way 
by  the  troops  ;  that  they  will  be  protected  in  all  their  usages ; 
and  that  every  thing  which  the  army  may  need  will  be  pur 
chased  from  them  at  fair  prices.  I  also  stated  that,  until  the 
matter  should  be  finally  adjusted  between  the  two  governments, 
the  harbour  of  Brazos  Santiago  would  be  open  to  the  free  use 
of  the  Mexicans  as  heretofore.  The  same  views  were  impressed 
upon  the  Mexican  custom-house  officer  at  Brazos  Santiago  by 
Captain  Hardee,  who  commanded  the  escort  which  covered  the 
reconnoissance  of  Padre  Island. 

We  are  entirely  without  news  of  interest  from  the  frontier, 
or  the  interior  of  Mexico,  our  latest  date  from  the  capital  being 
the  21st  of  January,  and  the  same  from  Vera  Cruz. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 

Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 
The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

These  connected  and  lucid  reports  of  General  Taylor's  views 
and  acts,  during  the  period  that  his  head-quarters  were  estab 
lished  at  Corpus  Christi,  supersede  any  other  narrative.  He 
had  profited  by  the  time  to  reduce  his  force  to  the  most  ad 
mirable  state  of  discipline  ;  to  foster  their  esprit  du  corps,  and 
especially  by  his  frank  and  unaffected  bearing,  to  inspire  that 
confidence  in  himself  which  contributed  so  largely  to  the  bril 
liant  achievements  of  their  aims  under  his  command. 


MARCH  FROM  CORPUS  CHRISTI.     87 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  March  from  Corpus  Christi  to  the  Rio  Grande  commenced — Face  of  the 
Country — Sufferings  of  the  Troops — Mexican  Demonstration — American 
Action — Point  Isabel  invested — The  March  resumed — Encampment  on  the  Rio 
Grande — Conference  rejected  —  Entrenchments  commenced — Despatches 
of  General  Taylor — Ampudia's  Magnanimity  —  A  Deserter  shot  —  Fort 
Brown — Murder  of  Colonel  Cross — Correspondence,  Ampudia  and  Taylor — 
General  Arista — Blockade  of  the  Rio  Grande — Correspondence  on  the  Sub 
ject — Mexicans  crossing  the  River — Capture  of  Thornton's  Command — 
Mexican  Exultation — Manifesto  of  Arista — Point  Isabel  in  Danger — Requi 
sition  for  Volunteers — Caotain  Walker's  First  Exploit — Resolution  to  relieve 
Point  Isabel. 

THE  Army  of  Occupation,  having  spent  six  months  in  the 
monotony  of  camp  duty  at  Corpus  Christi,  was  rejoiced  to  be 
put  in  motion  for  new  scenes  and  service.  The  12th  of  March 
witnessed  its  entire  force  moving  in  a  southerly  direction  over  the 
vast  wilderness  lying  between  the  Nueces  and  the  Rio  Grande. 
The  face  of  the  country,  destitute  of  vegetation  except  the 
harsh  prairie  grass,  and  unvaried,  except  by  the  long  undu 
lations,  never  rising  to  the  dignity  of  hills,  presented  nothing 
to  sustain  the  buoyant  spirit  with  which  the  march  had  been 
commenced,  nor  to  make  the  encumbered  soldier  forget  his 
burden.  As  the  Nueces  was  left  daily  farther  in  the  rear,  the 
barrenness  of  the  soil  increased,  and  offered  neither  spring  nor 
stream  to  appease  thirst  with  a  draught  of  wholesome  water. 
A  week  had  passed  in  this  dreary  and  painful  progress,  when 
green  woods  appeared  to  rise  in  the  distance  ;  and,  as  the 
weary  troops  approached  them,  sheets  of  bright  water  varied 
their  welcome  shade.  But  the  prospect  of  both  was  deltisive. 
The  seeming  forests  shrank  into  impenetrable  clusters  of  the 
dwarfish  thorn-tree,  and  the  clear  lakes  were  bitter  with  salt. 
Privations  and  fatigue  became  almost  intolerable,  under  this 
disappointment. 

The  stunted  groves  and  the  briny  pools  were  passed,  and 
the  march  continued  through  another  dreary  expanse  of 
country.  But  here  the  suffering  of  nine  days  was  forgotten, 


88         POINT  ISABEL  INVESTED. 

in  the  enjoyment  of  abundant  water.  The  army  reached  the 
Arroya  Colorado,  a  long,  narrow  inlet  of  the  sea.  General 
Taylor  had  concentrated  his  whole  force,  having  been  advised 
that  an  attempt  would  be  made  by  the  Mexicans  to  arrest  his 
progress.  A  body  of  cavalry  appeared,  on  the  opposite  bank 
of  the  river,  and  informed  him  that,  if  the  ford  was  attempted, 
the  passage  would  be  resisted  as  an  act  of  hostility.  Unaffected 
by  this  menace,  he  formed  the  army  in  order,  to  meet  force  by 
force,  and  commenced  the  passage,  the  artillery  being  posted 
to  protect  the  ford.  The  Mexicans,  who  had  made  demon 
strations  of  having  a  large  body  ready  to  engage  him,  disap 
peared  from  the  opposite  bank,  which  was  reached  without 
molestation,  General  Worth  heading  the  advance. 

On  the  23d,  the  march  was  resumed;  and,  on  the  fol 
lowing  day,  General  Taylor  reached  Point  Isabel  with  the 
cavalry,  while  General  Worth  continued  with  the  infantry  on 
the  direct  route  to  Matamoros.  While  approaching  Point  Isa 
bel,  General  Taylor  was  met  by  a  deputation  of  citizens,  from 
the  Rio  Grande,  who  handed  him  a  protest,  signed  by  the  Pre 
fect  of  the  Northern  District  of  the  Department  of  Tamaulipas, 
against  the  presence  of  his  army.  While  the  subject  was 
under  consideration,  he  perceived  smoke  arising  from  Point 
Isabel ;  and,  believing  that  the  place  had  been  fired  by  Mexi 
can  authority,  he  broke  off  the  conference,  and  dismissed  the 
deputation,  with  the  promise  of  an  answer  when  he  should 
arrive  on  the  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande.  Point  Isabel,  an  in 
significant  post,  with  a  few  mean  houses,  had  been  selected  as 
a  depot  for  military  stores,  being  the  nearest  port  to  Mata- 
moras  on  the  north.  To  preserve  its  buildings,  and  hold  pos 
session  of  them,  was,  therefore,  an  object  of  moment  to  the 
commander.  The  fire,  which  had  made  but  little  progress, 
was  arrested  by  the  dragoons  under  Col.  Twiggs,  detached 
for  the  purpose ;  and,  at  the  moment  of  General  Taylor's 
arrival,  the  supplies,  which  he  had  sent  from  Corpus  Christi 
by  water,  also  arrived,  fortunately  answering  his  expectations. 

The  arrangements  at  this  post  being  satisfactorily  made,  the 
general,  with  the  cavalry,  resumed  the  march  towards  Matamo- 


CAMP     ON    THE    RIO    GRANDE. 

ros,  and  was  joined  by  General  Worth's  command,  which  had 
encamped  on  the  road.  Another  week  brought  the  Rio  Grande 
in  sight,  the  army  having  passed  over  the  ground  soon  after 
wards  rendered  famous  by  the  victories  of  the  8th  and  9th  of 
May.  The  exhausted  troops,  on  the  28th  of  March,  pitched 
their  tents  on  the  left  bank  of  the  beautiful  river ;  and,  amidst  the 
early  vegetation  of  a  tropical  spring,  reposed,  for  a  time,  from 
their  labours.  General  Worth  and  his  staff  were,  immediately, 
instructed  by  General  Taylor  to  cross  the  river,  with  despatches 
for  the  Mexican  commander,  and  for  the  civil  magistrates. 
The  purpose  was  defeated  alike  by  the  ceremonious  requisi 
tions  of  these  parties,  and  by  the  determination  of  the  Mexican 
general,  particularly,  to  consider  the  presence  of  the  Americans 
an  aggressive  and  hostile  act.  General  Taylor,  accordingly, 
began  to  place  himself  in  a  position  to  resist  any  attack.  The 
topographical  corps  made  the  requisite  observations  of  the 
country,  and  the  site  of  permanent  defences  being  selected, 
the  works  were  commenced,  and  prosecuted  with  the  utmost 
diligence.  The  Mexicans,  meanwhile,  looked  supinely  on. 
Within  shot  of  their  city,  the  American  flag  was  floating,  and 
they  had  declared  all  under  it  to  be  open  enemies.  Yet  they 
allowed  the  golden  opportunity  to  pass,  when  the  latter  were 
encamped  in  the  open  field,  and  when,  if  ever,  an  assault^ 
might  have  been  successful. 

From  the  day  of  leaving  Corpus  Christ!  until  the  encamp 
ment  on  the  Rio  Grande,  the  following  despatches  were  written 
by  General  Taylor : 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  March  8, 1 846. 

SIR:  I  respectfully  report  that  the  advance  of  the  army, 
composed  of  the  cavalry  and  Major  Ringgold's  light  artillery, 
the  whole  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Twiggs,  took  up  the 
line  of  march  this  morning  in  the  direction  of  Matamoros,  its 
strength  being  23  officers  and  378  men.  The  advance  will  be 
followed  in  succession  by  the  brigades  of  infantry,  the  last 
brigade  marching  on  the  llth  instant.  The  roads  are  in  good 
8* 


90  TAYLOR'S  DESPATCHES. 


order,  the  weather  fine,  and  the  troops  in  excellent  condition 
for  service. 

Major  Munroe  will  embark  for  Brazos  Santiago  in  season  to 
reach  that  harbour  about  the  time  the  army  will  be  in  the 
vicinity  of  Point  Isabel.  He  takes  with  him  a  siege  train  and 
a  field  battery.  Captain  Sanders,  of  the  engineers,  the  officers 
of  ordnance,  and  the  pay  department,  accompany  Major 
Munroe. 

The  movement  by  water,  to  Brazos  Santiago,  will  be  covered 
by  the  revenue  cutter  "  Woodbury,"  Captain  Foster,  whose 
commander  has  kindly  placed  her  at  my  disposal  for  this  ser 
vice. 

All  proper  arrangements  have  been  made  by  the  staff  de 
partments  for  supplying  the  army  on  the  route,  as  well  as 
establishing  a  depot  for  its  further  wants  at  Point  Isabel. 

I  have  deemed  it  proper  to  cause  my  «  orders"  No.  30,  to 
be  translated  into  Spanish,  and  circulated  on  the  Rio  Grande. 
Sixty  copies  have  already  been  sent  in  advance  of  the  army  to 
Matamoros,  Camargo,  and  Mier.  This  form  of  giving  publi 
city  to  the  spirit  which  actuates  our  movement  in  occupying 
the  country,  I  thought  preferable  to  a  proclamation.  I  trust 
the  order  itself  will  meet  the  approval  of  the  department.  A 
few  copies  of  the  translation  are  herewith  enclosed. 

I  shall  again  communicate  with  general  head-quarters  before 
I  march,  and  I  expect  to  do  so  at  least  once  on  the  route. 

My  head-quarters  will  march  with  the  rear  brigade,  but  will 
soon  pass  to  the  advance  of  the  army. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 

7 

Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Order  No.  30.  Corpus  Christi,  March  8,  1846. 

The  army  of  occupation  of  Texas  being  now  about  to  take 
a  position  upon  the  left  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande,  under  the 
orders  of  the  Executive  of  the  United  States,  the  general-in- 


DESPATCHES    CONTINUED.  91 

chief  desires  to  express  the  hope  that  the  movement  will  be 
advantageous  to  all  concerned ;  and  with  the  object  of  attain 
ing  this  laudable  end,  he  has  ordered  all  under  his  command 
to  observe,  with  the  most  scrupulous  respect,  the  rights  of  all 
the  inhabitants  who  may  be  found  in  peaceful  prosecution  of 
their  respective  occupations,  as  well  on  the  left  as  on  the  right 
side  of  the  Rio  Grande.  Under  no  pretext,  nor  in  any  way, 
will  any  interference  be  allowed  with  the  civil  rights  or  religio-us 
privileges  of  the  inhabitants ;  but  the  utmost  respect  for  them 
will  be  maintained. 

Whatsoever  may  be  needed  for  the  use  of  the  army  will  be 
bought  by  the  proper  surveyor,  and  paid  for  at  the  highest 
prices.  The  general-in-chief  has  the  satisfaction  to  say  that  he 
confides  in  the  patriotism  and  discipline  of  the  army  under  his 
command,  and  that  he  feels  sure  that  his  orders  will  be  obeyed 
with  the  utmost  exactness. 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Camp  at  «E1  Sauce,"  119  miles  from  Corpus  Christi,  March  18,  1846. 

SIR  :  I  avail  myself  of  a  chance  opportunity  to  Corpus 
Christi  to  report  that  I  have  advanced  to  this  point  with  the 
cavalry  and  1st  brigade  of  infantry.  The  2d  brigade  encamps 
to-night  about  seven  miles  in  my  rear ;  the  3d  brigade  about 
nineteen.  I  shall  concentrate  all  my  force  on  reaching  the 
Little  Colorado,  thirteen  miles  in  my  front,  so  as  to  be  prepared 
for  any  contingency.  I  am  happy  to  say  that  all  the  corps  of 
the  army  are  in  fine  condition  and  spirits,  equal  to  any  service 
that  may  be  before  them. 

Within  the  last  two  days,  our  advance  has  met  with  small 
armed  parties  of  Mexicans,  who  seemed  disposed  to  avoid  us. 
They  were,  doubtless,  thrown  out  to  get  information  of  our 
advance. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 


92  DESPATCHES    CONTINUED. 


* 


Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Point  Isabel,  March  25,  1846. 


IR  :  I  respectfully  report  that  I  marched  on  the  morning  of 
the  23d  instant  with  the  entire  army  from  the  camp,  near  the 
Colorado,  in  the  order  prescribed  in  my  order  No.  35,  here 
with  enclosed.  After  a  march  of  fifteen  miles,  we  reached,  on 
the  morning  of  the  24th,  a  point  on  the  route  from  Matamoros 
to  Point  Isabel,  eighteen  miles  from  the  former  and  ten  from 
the  latter  place.  I  here  left  the  infantry  brigades  under  Briga 
dier  General  Worth,  with  instructions  to  proceed  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Matamoros  until  he  came  to  a  suitable  position  for  en 
campment,  where  he  w7ould  halt,  holding  the  route  in  observa 
tion,  while  I  proceed  with  the  cavalry  to  this  point  to  commu 
nicate  with  our  transports,  supposed  to  have  arrived  in  the 
harbour,  and  make  the  necessary  arrangements  for  the  estab 
lishment  and  defence  of  a  depot. 

While  on  my  way  hither,  our  column  was  approached  by  a 
party  on  its  right  flank,  bearing  a  white  flag.  It  proved  to  be 
a  civil  deputation  from  Matamoros,  desiring  an  interview  with 
me.  I  informed  them  that  I  would  halt  at  the  first  suitable 
place  on  the  road  and  afford  them  the  desired  interview.  It 
was,  however,  found  necessary,  from  the  want  of  water,  to 
continue  the  route  to  this  place.  The  deputation  halted  while 
yet  some  miles  from  Point  Isabel,  declining  to  come  further, 
and  sent  me  a  formal  protest  of  the  prefect  of  the  northern  dis 
trict  of  Tamaulipas  against  our  occupation  of  the  country, 
which  I  enclose  herewith.  At  this  moment  it  was  discovered 
that  the  buildings  at  Point  Isabel  were  in  flames.  I  then  in 
formed  the  bearer  of  the  protest  that  I  would  answer  it  when 
opposite  Matamoros,  and  dismissed  the  deputation.  I  con 
sidered  the  conflagration  before  my  eyes  as  a  decided  evidence 
of  hostility,  and  was  not  willing  to  be  trifled  with  any  longer, 
particularly  as  I  had  reason  to  believe  that  the  prefect,  in  making 
this  protest,  was  but  a  tool  of  the  military  authorities  at  Mata 
moros. 

The  advance  of  the  cavalry  fortunately  arrived  here  in  season 


DESPATCHES    CONTINUED.  93 

to  arrest  the  fire,  which  consumed  but  three  or  four  houses. 
The  port  captain,  who  committed  the  act  under  the  orders,  it 
is  said,  of  General  Mejia,  had  made  his  escape  before  its  ar 
rival.  We  found  two  or  three  inoffensive  Mexicans  here,  the 
rest  having  left  for  Matamoros. 

I  was  gratified  to  find  that  the  water  expedition  had  exactly 
answered  to  our  land  movement — the  steamers  arriving  in  the 
harbour  only  two  or  three  hours  before  we  reached  Point  Isabel, 
with  the  other  transports  close  in  their  rear.  The  "Porpoise" 
and  "  Lawrence,"  brigs  of  war,  and  cutter  "Woodbury,"  are 
lying  outside.  I  have  thought  it  necessary  to  order  Captain 
Porter's  company  to  this  place  to  reinforce  Major  Munroe. 
Our  great  depot  must  be  here,  and  it  is  very  important  to  se 
cure  it  against  any  enterprise  of  the  enemy.  The  engineer 
officers  are  now  examining  the  ground  with  a  view  to  tracing 
lines  of  defence  and  strengthening  the  position. 

As  soon  as  a  sufficient  amount  of  supplies  can  be  thrown 
forward  toward  Matamoros,  I  shall  march  in  the  direction  of 
that  town  and  occupy  a  position  as  near  it  as  circumstances 
will  permit. 

I  enclose  a  sketch  prepared  by  my  aid-de-camp,  Lieutenant 
Eaton,  exhibiting  the  route  of  march  since  leaving  the  Colo 
rado,  and  the  bearings  of  important  points. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  following  correspondence  elucidates  the  positions  of  the 
Mexican  local  authorities,  and  of  General  Taylor,  respectively, 
upon  his  arrival  on  the  Rio  Grande. 

Office  of  the  Prefect  of  the  Northern  District  of  the  Department  of  Tamaulipas. 
God  and  Liberty ! 

Santa  Rita,  March  23,  1846. 

SIR  :  Although  the  pending  question  respecting  the  annexa 
tion  of  the  department  of  Texas  to  the  United  States  is  subject 
to  the  decision  of  the  supreme  government  of  Mexico,  the  fact 


94  DESPATCHES    CONTINUED. 

•  n 
of  the  advance  of  the  army,  under  your  excellency's  orders, 

over  the  line  occupied  by  you  at  Corpus  Christi,  places  me 
under  the  necessity,  as  the  chief  political  authority  of  the 
northern  district  of  Tamaulipas,  to  address  you,  as  I  have  now 
the  honour  to  do,  through  the  commissioners,  who  will  place 
this  in  your  hands,  and  to  inform  you  that  the  people,  under 
this  prefecture,  being  justly  alarmed  at  the  invasion  of  an  army, 
which,  without  any  previous  declaration  of  war,  and  without 
announcing  explicitly  the  object  proposed  by  it,  comes  to  oc 
cupy  a  territory  which  never  belonged  to  the  insurgent  pro 
vince,  cannot  regard  with  indifference  a  proceeding  so  con 
trary  to  the  conduct  observed  towards  each  other  by  civilized 
nations,  and  to  the  clearest  principles  of  the  law  of  nations ; 
that,  directed  by  honour  and  patriotism,  and  certain  that  no 
thing  has  been  said  officially  by  the  cabinet  of  the  Union  to  the 
Mexican  government,  respecting  the  extension  of  the  limits  of 
Texas  to  the  left  bank  of  the  Rio  Bravo,  trusting  in  the  well- 
known  justice  of  their  cause,  and  using  their  natural  right  of 
defence,  they  (the  citizens  of  this  district)  protest,  in  the  most 
solemn  manner,  that  neither  now  nor  at  any  time  do  they,  or 
will  they,  consent  to  separate  themselves  from  the  Mexican 
republic,  and  to  unite  themselves  with  the  United  States,  and 
that  they  are  resolved  to  carry  this  firm  determination  into  effect, 
resisting,  so  far  as  their  strength  will  enable  them,  at  all  times 
and  places,  until  the  army  under  your  excellency's  orders  shall 
recede  and  occupy  its  former  positions  ;  because,  so  long  as  it 
remains  within  the  territory  of  Tamaulipas,  the  inhabitants 
must  consider  that  whatsoever  protestations  of  peace  may  be 
made,  hostilities  have  been  openly  commenced  by  your  excel 
lency,  the  lamentable  consequences  of  which  will  rest  before 
the  world  exclusively  on  the  heads  of  the  invaders. 

I  have  the  honour  to  say  this  to  your  excellency,  with  the 
object  indicated,  and  to  assure  you  of  my  consideration  and 
esteem. 

JENES  CARDENAS. 
JUAN  JOSE  PINEDA. 

To  General  Z.  Taylor,  &c. 


ENTRENCHMENTS   ON    THE    RIVER.  95 

Camp  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande. 
Opposite  Matamoros,  March  29,  1846- 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honour  to  report  that  I  arrived  at  this  camp 
yesterday  with  the  forces  under  my  command,  no  resistance 
having  been  offered  to  my  advance  to  the  banks  of  the  river, 
nor  any  act  of  hostility  committed  by  the  Mexicans,  except  the 
capture  of  two  of  our  dragoons,  sent  forward  from  the  ad 
vanced  guard.  I  deem  it  possible  that  these  two  men  may 
have  deserted  to  the  enemy,  as  one  of  them,  at  least,  bears  a 
bad  character.  Our  approach  seems  to  have  created  much 
excitement  in  Matamoros,  and  a  great  deal  of  activity  has  been 
displayed  since  our  arrival  in  the  preparation  of  batteries. 
The  left  bank  is  now  under  reconnoissance  of  our  engineer 
officers,  and  I  shall  lose  no  time  in  strengthening  our  position 
by  such  defensive  works  as  may  be  necessary,  employing  for 
that  purpose  a  portion  of  the  heavy  guns  brought  round  by  sea. 

The  attitude  of  the  Mexicans  is  so  far  decidedly  hostile.  An 
interview  has  been  held,  by  my  direction,  with  the  military  au 
thorities  in  Matamoros,  but  with  no  satisfactory  result. 

Under  this  state  of  things,  I  must  again  and  urgently  call 
your  attention  to  the  necessity  of  speedily  sending  recruits  to 
this  army. 

The  militia  of  Texas  are  so  remote  from  the  border  that  we 
cannot  depend  upon  their  aid. 

The  strength  gained  by  filling  up  the  regiments  here,  even 
to  the  present  feeble  establishment,  would  be  of  very  great  im 
portance. 

I  respectfully  enclose  a  field  report  of  the  force  now  in  this 
camp. 

am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

A  few  days  after  the  tents  of  the  Army  of  Occupation  had 
been  pitched  on  the  Rio  Grande,  sufficed  for  the  partial  erec 
tion  of  defensive  works.  Meanwhile,  General  Ampudia  was 


96  A    DESERTER     SHOT. 

on  his  march  to  Matamoros  to  take  command  of  the  Mexican 
forces  in  that  city.  He  announced  his  presence,  by  the  circu 
lation,  in  the  American  camp,  of  a  document  addressed  to  the 
English  and  Irish  soldiers.  It  informed  them,  that  the  United 
States  was  guilty  of  barbarous  acts  of  aggression  against  f  <  the 
magnanimous  Mexican  nation  ;"  and  that  the  government  ex 
isting  under  the  stripes  and  stars,  was  unworthy  of  the  desig 
nation  of  Christian.  The  former  subjects  of  Great  Britain 
were  reminded  of  their  nativity,  and  assured  that  the  American 
government,  by  its  course  with  regard  to  Oregon,  was  then 
seeking  to  create  a  rupture  with  their  parent  country.  For 
these  reasons,  they  were  exhorted  to  take  refuge  in  the  Mexican 
ranks,  and  were  guarantied  "  upon  honour,''  good  treatment, 
and  safe  escort  to  the  beautiful  capital  of  Mexico.  The  address 
concluded  with  these  words :  "  Germans,  French,  Poles,  and 
individuals  of  other  nations !  Separate  yourselves  from  the 
Yankees,  and  do  not  contribute  to  defend  a  robbery  and 
usurpation  which,  be  assured,  the  civilized  nations  of  Europe 
look  on  with  the  utmost  indignation.  Come,  therefore,  and 
array  yourselves  under  the  tri-coloured  flag,  in  the  confidence 
that  the  God  of  armies  protects  it,  and  that  it  will  protect  you 
equally  with  the  English !"  This  seductive  appeal  was  not 
without  effect  upon  a  few  romantic  individuals,  who,  as  op 
portunity  offered,  attempted  to  cross  the  river,  and  throw  them 
selves  into  the  arms  of  the  magnanimous  Mexican  nation.  In 
the  effort,  a  small  number  succeeded ;  but  the  majority  was 
drowned,  and  one  man,  who  had  reached  the  opposite  bank 
and  was  ascending  it,  was  shot,  at  the  distance  of  two  hundred 
yards,  by  a  sentinel,  and  fell  dead  in  the  sight  of  his  old  and 
his  new  friends.  The  latter  buried  him  respectfully,  and  his 
melancholy  fate  proved  a  salutary  lesson  to  the  former. 

By  the  10th  of  April,  considerable  progress  had  been  made 
in  the  works  intended  for  the  reception  of  ordnance  expected 
from  Point  Isabel,  and  in  the  principal  intrenchment,  which 
afterwards  received  the  name  of  Fort  Brown.  The  latter 
was  extensive,  capable  of  accommodating  about  two  thousand 

men.     It  had  six  bastions,  and  the  guns  on  the  river  side 

.  * 
_  « . 


COL.    CROSS    MURDERED.  97 

commanded  the  town  of  Matamoros.  The  work  was  planned 
and  executed  under  the  direction  of  Captain  Mansfield,  of  the 
engineer  corps. 

This  day,  the  10th  of  April,  was  signalized  by  the  first 
shedding  of  American  blood  by  Mexican  hands.  Colonel 
Cross,  Deputy  Quarter  Master  General,  had  ridden  out,  as  was 
his  custom,  for  exercise.  Night  coming  on,  he  did  not  return, 
and  alarm  began  to  be  felt  for  his  safety.  Attached  to  the 
Mexican  army,  were  then,  as  now,  irresponsible  parties  of  ca 
valry,  whose  business  was  rather  assassination  and  robbery, 
than  honourable  warfare.  It  was  feared,  that  Colonel  Cross 
had  fallen  a  victim  to  one  of  these  bands,  and  ten  days  after 
wards  his  remains  were  found  and  identified.  Information  was 
then  received,  which  left  no  reasonable  doubt  that  such  had 
been  the  mode  of  his  death.  His  memory  was  honoured,  by 
the  commander-in-chief,  by  a  funeral  becoming  his  rank. 

General  Ampudia  arrived  in  Matamoros  on  the  llth.  He 
was  welcomed  by  his  countrymen ;  and,  to  the  army  under 
Taylor,  his  coming  was  hailed  as  the  signal  of  definite  action 
on  the  part  of  Mexico.  The  suspense  did  not  last  long.  On 
the  following  morning,  a  military  deputation,  from  General 
Ampudia,  delivered  the  subjoined  letter  to  General  Taylor : — 

^%-  .  *^""  % 

Head  Quarters  at  Matamoros,  2  o'clock  P.  M. 

f  «*(       Fourth  Military  Division,      ?       .     ..  .„  ,R.R 
General-in-Chief.  5     APnl  1<8» lfi 

God  and  Liberty  ! 

To  explain  to  you  the  many  grounds  for  the  just  grievances 
felt  by  the  Mexican  nation,  caused  by  the  United  States  go 
vernment,  would  be  a  loss  of  time,  and  an  insult  to  your  good 
sense ;  I,  therefore,  pass  at  once  to  such  explanation  as  I  con 
sider  of  absolute  necessity. 

Your  government,  in  an  incredible  manner — you  will  even 
permit  me  to  say  an  extravagant  one,  if  the  usages,  or  general 
rules  established  and  received  among  all  civilized  nations  are 
regarded — has  not  only  insulted,  but  has  exasperated  the  Mex 
ican  nation,  bearing  its  conquering  banner  to  the  left  bank  of 

9 


, 

'  »  * 

98        CORRESPONDENCE    WITH    AMPUDIA. 

the  Rio  Bravo  del  Norte  ;  and  in  this  case,  by  explicit  and 
definitive  orders  of  my  government,  which  neither  can,  will, 
nor  should  receive  new  outrages,  I  require  you  in  all  form, 
and  at  latest  in  the  peremptory  term  of  twenty-four  hours,  to 
break  up  your  camp  and  retire  to  the  other  bank  of  the  Nueces 
river,  while  our  governments  are  regulating  the  pending  ques 
tion  in  relation  to  Texas.  If  you  insist  on  remaining  upon  the 
soil  of  the  department  of  Tamaulipas,  it  will  clearly  result  that 
arms,  and  arms  alone,  must  decide  the  question  ;  and,  in  that 
case,  I  advise  you  that  we  accept  the  war  to  which,  with  so 
much  injustice  on  your  part,  you  provoke  us,  and  that,  on  our 
part,  this  war  shall  be  conducted  conformably  to  the  principles 
established  by  the  most  civilized  nations  ;  that  is  to  say,  that 
the  law  of  nations  and  of  war  shall  be  the  guide  of  my  opera 
tions  ;  trusting  that  on  your  part  the  same  will  be  observed. 

With  this  view,  I  tender  you  the  considerations  due  to  your 
person  and  respectable  office. 

PEDRO  DE  AMPUDIA. 

Senor  General-in-Chief  of  the  U.  S.  Army, 
Don  Z.  TAYLOR. 

To  this  peremptory  requisition  General  Taylor  replied : 

Head  Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Camp  near  Matamoros,  Texas,  April  12,  1846. 

SENOR  :  I  have  had  the  honour  to  receive  your  note  of  this 
date,  in  which  you  summon  me  to  withdraw  the  forces  under 
my  command  from  their  present  position,  and  beyond  the  river 
Nueces,  until  the  pending  question  between  our  governments, 
relative  to  the  limits  of  Texas,  shall  be  settled. 

I  need  hardly  advise  you  that,  charged  as  I  am,  in  only  a 
military  capacity,  with  the  performance  of  specific  duties,  I 
cannot  enter  into  a  discussion  of  the  international  question  in 
volved  in  the  advance  of  the  American  army.  You  will,  how 
ever,  permit  me  to  say,  that  the  government  of  the  United 
States  has  constantly  sought  a  settlement,  by  negotiation,  of 
the  question  of  boundary ;  that  an  envoy  was  despatched  to 
Mexico  for  that  purpose,  and  that  up  to  the  most  recent  dates 


•    T        •-'•••  *  *  -        ^ 

BLOCKADE    OF    RIO    GRANDE.  99 

said  envoy  had  not  been  received  by  the  actual  Mexican  go 
vernment,  if  indeed  he  has  not  received  his  passports  and  left 
the  republic.  In  the  mean  time,  I  have  been  ordered  to  occupy 
the  country  up  to  the  left  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande,  until  the 
boundary  shall  be  definitely  settled.  In  carrying  out  these  in 
structions  I  have  carefully  abstained  from  all  acts  of  hostility, 
obeying,  in  this  regard,  not  only  the  letter  of  my  instructions, 
but  the  plain  dictates  of  justice  and  humanity. 

The  instructions  under  which  I  am  acting  will  not  permit 
me  to  retrograde  from  the  position  I  now  occupy.  In  view  of 
the  relations  between  our  respective  governments,  and  the  in 
dividual  suffering  which  may  result,  I  regret  the  alternative 
which  you  offer ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  wish  it  understood 
that  I  shall  by  no  means  avoid  such  alternative,  leaving  the  re 
sponsibility  with  those  who  rashly  commence  hostilities.  In 
conclusion,  you  will  permit  me  to  give  the  assurance  that  on 
my  part  the  laws  and  customs  of  war  among  civilized  nations 
shall  be  carefully  observed. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR. 

Senor  General  D.  PEDRO  DE  AMPUDIA. 

To  confirm  these  declarations,  General  Taylor  continued 
to  fortify  his  camp,  and  to  make  every  disposition  to  resist  an 
attack.  Ampudia  soon  gave  place,  as  commanding  officer  at 
Matamoros,  to  General  Arista,  commander-in-chief  of  the 
Northern  Division  of  the  Mexican  army.  The  reported  acces 
sions  to  its  force  also  created  new  expectations  in  the  Ameri 
can  camp  that  a  decisive  demonstration  would  soon  be  made 
against  it.  On  the  19th,  intelligence  was  brought  General 
Taylor  of  the  arrival  of  two  vessels  off  the  mouth  of  the  Rio 
Grande  with  supplies  for  the  Mexicans  in  Matamoros.  He  at 
once  declared  a  blockade  of  the  river,  which  he  enforced  by 
ordering  the  United  States  Brig  Lawrence,  and  a  revenue  cut 
ter,  to  guard  its  mouth.  This  measure  elicited  another  note 

from  Ampudia,  in  which,  after  mentioning  the  fact  of  the  ves- 

0 


:  vl  • 

100  AMPUDIA'S  PROTEST. 

sels  being  sent  to  Brazos  Santiago,  he  proceeds  in  the  following 
strain : 

"  The  cargo  of  one  of  them  is  composed  in  great  part,  and 
of  the  other  entirely,  of  provisions,  which  the  contractors, 
charged  with  providing  for  the  army  under  my  orders,  had  pro 
cured  to  fulfil  the  obligations  of  their  contracts.  You  have 
taken  possession  of  these  provisions  by  force,  and  against  the 
will  of  the  proprietors,  one  of  whom  is  vice-consul  of  her  Ca 
tholic  Majesty,  and  the  other  of  her  Britannic  Majesty ;  and 
whose  rights,  in  place  of  being  rigorously  respected,  as  was 
proffered,  and  as  was  to  be  hoped  from  the  observance  of  the 
principles  which  govern  among  civilized  nations,  have,  on  the 
contrary,  been  violated  in  the  most  extraordinary  manner,  op 
posed  to  the  guarantee  and  respect  due  to  private  property. 

"  Nothing  can  have  authorized  you  in  such  a  course.  The 
commerce  of  nations  is  not  suspended  or  interrupted,  except 
in  consequence  of  a  solemn  declaration  of  blockade,  commu 
nicated  and  established  in  the  form  prescribed  by  international 
law.  Nevertheless,  you  have  infringed  these  rules ;  and,  by  an 
act  which  can  never  be  viewed  favourably  to  the  United  States 
government,  have  hindered  the  entrance  to  a  Mexican  port  of 
vessels  bound  to  it,  under  the  confidence  that  commerce 
would  not  be  interrupted.  My  duties  do  not  allow  me  to  con 
sent  to  this  new  species  of  hostility,  and  they  constrain  me  to 
require  of  you,  not  only  that  the  vessels  taken  by  force  to 
Brazos  Santiago  shall  be  at  liberty  to  return  to  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  but  the  restoration  of  all  the  provisions  which,  be 
sides  belonging  to  private  contractors,  were  destined  for  the 
troops  on  this  frontier.  I  consider  it  useless  to  inculcate  the 
justice  of  this  demand,  and  the  results  which  may  follow  an 
unlooked-for  refusal. 

"  I  have  also  understood  that  two  Mexicans,  carried  down 
in  a  boat  by  the  current  of  the  river  near  one  of  the  advanced 
posts  of  your  camp,  were  detained,  after  being  fired  upon,  and 
that  they  are  still  kept  and  treated  as  prisoners.  The  indivi 
duals  in  question  do  not  belong  to  the  army,  and  this  circum 
stance  exempts  them  from  the  laws  of  war.  I  therefore  hope 


/  *  -  •       N 

TAYLOR'S  REPLY.  101 

~w*  •  •    «• 

that  you  will  place  them  absolutely  at  liberty,  as  I  cannot  be 
persuaded  that  you  pretend  to  extend  to  persons  not  military 
the  consequences  of  an  invasion,  which,  without  employing 
this  means  of  rigour  against  unarmed  citizens,  is  marked  in  it 
self  with  the  seal  of  universal  reprobation." 

To  this  note  General  Taylor  took  occasion  to  reply  at  some 
length,  in  a  strain  both  exculpatory,  as  regarded  his  own 
course,  and  declaratory  of  the  exceptionable  conduct  of  the 
Mexicans.  After  acknowledging  Ampudia's  note,  he  con 
tinues  as  follows :  1 

"  After  all  that  has  passed  since  the  American  army  first 
approached  the  Rio  Bravo,  I  am  certainly  surprised  that  you 
should  complain  of  a  measure  which  is  no  other  than  a  natural 
result  of  the  state  of  war  so  much  insisted  upon  by  the  Mexican 
authorities  as  actually  existing  at  this  time.  You  will  excuse 
me  for  recalling  a  few  circumstances  to  show  that  this  state  of 
war  has  not  been  sought  by  the  American  army,  but  has  been 
forced  upon  it,  and  that  the  exercise  of  the  rights  incident  to 
such  a  state  cannot  be  made  a  subject  of  complaint. 

"  On  breaking  up  my  camp  at  Corpus  Christi,  and  moving 
forward  with  the  army  under  my  orders  to  occupy  the  left  bank 
of  the  Rio  Bravo,  it  was  my  earnest  desire  to  execute  my  in 
structions  in  a  pacific  manner :  to  observe  the  utmost  regard 
for  the  personal  rights  of  all  citizens  residing  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  river,  and  to  take  care  that  the  religion  and  customs  of 
the  people  should  suffer  no  violation.  With  this  view,  and  to 
quiet  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants,  I  issued  orders  to  the  army, 
enjoining  a  strict  observance  of  the  rights  and  interests  of  all 
Mexicans  residing  on  the  river,  and  caused  said  orders  to  be 
translated  into  Spanish,  and  circulated  in  the  several  towns  on 
the  Bravo.  These  orders  announced  the  spirit  in  which  we 
proposed  to  occupy  the  country,  and  I  am  proud  to  say  that 
up  to  this  moment  the  same  spirit  has  controlled  the  operations 
of  the  army.  On  reaching  the  Arroyo  Colorado  I  was  informed 
by  a  Mexican  officer  that  the  order  in  question  had  been  re 
ceived  in  Matamoros :  but  was  told,  at  the  same  time,  that  if  I 
attempted  to  cross  the  river  it  would  be  regarded  as  a  declara- 
9* 


102         VINDICATES    HIS    PROCEEDINGS. 

tion  of  war.  Again,  on  my  march  to  Frontone*  I  was  met  by 
a  deputation  of  the  civil  authorities  of  Matamoros,  protesting 
against  my  occupation  of  a  portion  of  the  department  of  Tamau- 
lipas,  and  declaring  that  if  the  army  was  not  at  once  withdrawn, 
war  would  result.  While  this  communication  was  in  my  hands, 
it  was  discovered  that  the  village  of  Frontone  had  been  set  on 
fire  and  abandoned.  I  viewed  this  as  a  direct  act  of  war,  and 
informed  the  deputation  that  their  communication  would  be 
answered  by  me  when  opposite  Matamoros,  which  was  done 
in  respectful  terms.  On  reaching  the  river  I  despatched  an 
officer,  high  in  rank,  to  convey  to  the  commanding  general  in 
Matamoros  the  expression  of  my  desire  for  amicable  relations, 
and  my  willingness  to  leave  open  to  the  use  of  the  citizens  of 
Matamoros  the  port  of  Brazos  Santiago  until  the  question  of 
boundary  should  be  definitively  settled.  This  officer  received 
for  reply,  from  the  officer  selected  to  confer  with  him,  that  my 
advance  to  the  Rio  Bravo  was  considered  as  a  veritable  act  of 
war,  and  he  was  absolutely  refused  an  interview  with  the  Ameri 
can  consul,  in  itself  an  act  incompatible  with  a  state  of  peace. 
"  Notwithstanding  these  repeated  assurances  on  the  part  of  the 
Mexican  authorities,  and  notwithstanding  the  most  obviously 
hostile  preparations  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  accompa 
nied  by  a  rigid  non-intercourse,  I  carefully  abstained  from  any 
act  of  hostility — determined  that  the  onus  of  producing  an  ac 
tual  state  of  hostilities  should  not  rest  with  me.  Our  relations 
remained  in  this  state  until  I  had  the  honour  to  receive  your 
note  of  the  12th  instant,  in  which  you  denounce  war  as  the 
alternative  of  my  remaining  in  this  position.  As  I  could  not, 
under  my  instructions,  recede  from  my  position,  I  accepted  the 
alternative  you  offered  me,  and  made  all  my  dispositions  to 
meet  it  suitably.  But,  still  willing  to  adopt  milder  measures 
before  proceeding  to  others,  I  contented  myself  in  the  first  in 
stance  with  ordering  a  blockade  of  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Bravo 
by  the  naval  forces  under  my  orders — a  proceeding  perfectly 
consonant  with  the  state  of  war  so  often  declared  to  exist,  and 
which  you  acknowledge  in  your  note  of  the  16th  instant,  rela- 
*  The  town  at  Point  Isabel. 


r  ;1    V 

ANNOUNCES    HIS    RESOLUTION.  103 

tive  to  the  late  Col.  Cross.  If  this  measure  seem  oppressive, 
1  wish  it  borne  in  mind  that  it  has  been  forced  upon  me  by  the 
course  you  have  seen  fit  to  adopt.  I  have  reported  this  block 
ade  to  my  government,  and  shall  not  remove  it  until  I  receive 
instructions  to  that  effect,  unless,  indeed,  you  desire  an  armis 
tice  pending  the  final  settlement  of  the  question  between  the 
governments,  or  until  war  shall  be  formally  declared  by  either, 
in  which  case  I  shall  cheerfully  open  the  river.  In  regard  to 
the  consequences  you  mention  as  resulting  from  a  refusal  to 
remove  the  blockade,  I  beg  you  to  understand  that  I  am  pre 
pared  for  them,  be  they  what  they  may. 

"  In  regard  to  the  particular  vessels  referred  to  in  your  com 
munication,  I  have  the  honour  to  advise  you  that,  in  pursuance 
of  my  orders,  two  American  schooners,  bound  for  Matamoros, 
were  warned  off  on  the  17th  instant,  when  near  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  and  put  to  sea,  returning  probably  to  New  Orleans. 
They  were  not  seized,  or  their  cargoes  disturbed  in  any  way, 
nor  have  they  been  in  the  harbour  of  Brazos  Santiago  to  my 
knowledge.  A  Mexican  schooner,  understood  to  be  the  "  Ju- 
niata,"  was  in  or  off  that  harbour  when  my  instructions  to 
block  the  river  were  issued,  but  was  driven  to  sea  in  a  gale, 
since  which  time  I  have  had  no  report  concerning  her.  Since 
the  receipt  of  your  communication,  I  have  learned  that  two 
persons,  sent  to  the  mouth  of  the  river  to  procure  information 
respecting  this  vessel,  proceeded  thence  to  Brazos  Santiago, 
when  they  were  taken  up  and  detained  by  the  officer  in  com 
mand,  until  my  orders  could  be  received.  I  shall  order  their 
immediate  release.  A  letter  from  one  of  them  to  the  Spanish 
vice-consul  is  respectfully  transmitted  herewith. 

"In  relation  to  the  Mexicans  said  to  have  drifted  down  the 
river  in  a  boat,  and  to  be  prisoners  at  this  time  in  my  camp,  I 
have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  no  such  persons  have  been 
taken  prisoners  or  are  now  detained  by  my  authority.  The 
boat  in  question  was  carried  down  empty  by  the  current  of  the 
river,  and  drifted  ashore  near  one  of  our  pickets  and  was  se 
cured  by  the  guard.  Some  time  afterwards  an  attempt  was 
made  to  recover  the  boat  under  the  cover  of  the  darkness ;  the 


104  RECONNOITRING    INCIDENTS. 

individuals  concerned  were  hailed  by  the  guard,  and,  failing 
to  answer,  were  fired  upon  as  a  matter  of  course.  What  be 
came  of  them  is  not  known,  as  no  trace  of  them  could  be  dis 
covered  on  the  following  morning.  The  officer  of  the  Mexican 
guard  directly  opposite  was  informed  next  day  that  the  boat 
would  be  returned  on  proper  application  to  me,  and  I  have  now 
only  to  repeat  that  assurance. 

"  In  conclusion,  I  take  leave  to  state  that  I  consider  the  tone 
of  your  communication  highly  exceptionable,  where  you  stig 
matise  the  movement  of  the  army  under  my  orders  as  "  marked 
with  the  seal  of  universal  reprobation."  You  must  be  aware 
that  such  language  is  not  respectful  in  itself,  either  to  me  or 
my  government ;  and  while  I  observe  in  my  own  correspond 
ence  the  courtesy  due  to  your  high  position,  and  to  the  mag 
nitude  of  the  interests  with  which  we  are  respectively  charged, 
I  shall  expect  the  same  in  return." 

The  position  of  the  Army  of  Occupation  began  now  to  ap 
pear  painfully  critical.  Daily  intelligence  was  received  of  the 
augmentation  of  the  Mexican  forces.  To  this  was  added,  on 
the  24th,  rumours  that  they  were  crossing  the  river,  to  the 
number  of  three  thousand,  above  and  below  the  camp,  with  the 
design  of  marching  against  Point  Isabel,  and  thus  cutting  off 
the  supplies  at  that  depot  on  which  the  army  was  dependent. 
To  ascertain  the  truth  of  these  reports,  General  Taylor  ordered 
Captain  Ker,  with  a  squadron  of  dragoons,  to  reconnoitre  be 
tween  the  camp  and  the  mouth  of  the  river,  while  another 
squadron,  under  Captain  Thornton,  was  sent  above  for  the 
same  object.  The  former  returned  without  having  learned 
anything  to  confirm  the  unfavourable  reports.  The  mission  of 
the  latter  was  less  fortunate.  Having  ascended  the  river  bank 
about  twenty-five  miles,  he  halted  in  consequence  of  the  re 
fusal  of  his  guide  to  proceed,  the  latter  declaring  that  large 
bodies  of  Mexican  troops  were  in  the  neighbourhood.  Doubt 
ing  the  statement,  however,  Captain  Thornton  again  moved 
forward  ;  and,  stopping  at  a  farm-house,  the  court  of  which 
was  surrounded  by  a  chapparal  hedge,  to  make  some  enquiry, 
he  was  suddenly  surrounded  by  a  large  body  of  Mexican  in- 


THORNTON'S  COMMAND  CAPTURED.  105 

fantry  and  cavalry.  A  charge  through  it  was  attempted,  but 
without  success.  Captain  Thornton,  by  an  extraordinary  leap 
of  his  horse,  which  was  wounded  at  the  moment  by  a  dis 
charge  of  musketry,  cleared  the  hedge.  His  command  was  un 
able  to  follow ;  and  the  second  officer,  Captain  Hardee,  after  an 
attempt  to  retreat  across  the  river,  was  obliged  to  surrender  the 
party  prisoners  of  war.  Lieutenant  G.  T.  Mason,  a  promising 
young  officer,  was  killed  in  this  affair.  The  prisoners  were 
taken  to  Matamoros,  and  well  treated.  For  some  time,  Captain 
Thornton  was  missing ;  but,  as  was  afterwards  learned  from 
him,  his  horse  had  fallen,  and  injured  him,  and,  when  endea 
vouring  to  return  to  the  camp  on  foot,  he  was  taken  within  a 
few  miles  of  it,  and  joined  his  men,  a  prisoner,  in  Matamoros. 
The  capture  of  this  handful  of  dragoons,  was  the  occasion  of 
extraordinary  exultation  on  the  part  of  the  host  of  their  con 
querors.  General  Arista  thus  triumphantly  congratulated  Ge 
neral  Torrejon,  who  commanded  in  the  affair: 

"  This  has  been  a  day  of  rejoicing  to  all  the  Division  of  the 
North,  it  having  this  day  been  known  of  the  triumph  achieved 
by  the  brigade  which  your  excellency  so  worthily  commands. 
The  rejoiced  country  will  doubtless  celebrate  this  preliminary 
of  glorious  deeds  that  her  happy  sons  will  in  future  present  to 
her.  Your  excellency  will  communicate  to  your  brave  soldiers 
that  I  have  seen  with  the  greatest  pleasure  their  valiant  be 
haviour,  and  that  I  await  for  the  detailed  despatch  to  elevate  it 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  supreme  government,  so  that  the  nation 
may  learn  the  triumph  of  your  arms." 

On  the  day  that  Thornton's  unfortunate  party  had  left  the 
camp,  a  messenger  from  General  Arista  brought  to  General 
Taylor  the  following  manifesto,  addressed  on  the  cover  to  the 
commander-in-chief  of  the  United  States  forces  : — 

"  The  course  of  events,  since  the  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  United  States  was  declared,  has  been  so  clearly  hostile  to 
Mexico,  and  so  foreign  to  the  dignity  and  principles  which 
the  Americans  have  proclaimed  to  the  world,  that  we  came  to 
the  conclusion,  that  their  policy  has  been  changed,  and  that 


106  POINT    ISABEL    THREATENED. 

their  moderation  is  turned  into  a  desire  of  aggrandizement,  en 
riching  themselves  by  humiliating  their  neighbours. 

"  The  respect  and  consideration  that  friendly  nations  show 
to  each  other  have  been  trampled  upon,  by  which  reason,  the 
justice  and  excessive  moderation  of  Mexico  shine  forth  still 
more.  Pressed  and  forced  into  war,  we  enter  into  a  struggle, 
which  cannot  be  avoided,  without  failing  in  what  is  most  sacred 
to  man. 

"  Political  discussions  do  not  appertain  to  military  men,  but 
to  diplomatic  agents.  To  us  belongs  the  part  to  act,  without 
it  occasioning  any  surprise  that  the  troops  under  my  command 
should  not  wait  for  anything  else  to  give  battle. 

"  We  Mexicans  have  been  calumniated  as  barbarous,  in  the 
most  caustic  and  unjust  terms.  The  occasion  has  arrived  to 
show  what  we  are ;  and,  I  do  not  believe  that,  in  the  troops 
under  my  command,  there  will  be  any  cause  to  confirm  such 
suppositions,  as  they  will  render  conspicuous  the  feelings  of 
humanity  and  generosity  which  distinguish  them. 

"  For  this  time,  I  have  the  honour  to  offer  your  excellency 
my  great  consideration. 

«  MARIANO  ARISTA. 

«  God  and  Liberty ! 
"  Head  Quarters,  Matamoros,  April  24,  1846." 

A  private  note  to  General  Taylor  accompanied  this  formal 
expression  of  modest  assurance,  in  which  the  writer,  after  pay 
ing  a  compliment  to  General  Taylor's  urbanity,  pledged  him 
self,  personally,  that  "justice  and  love  of  humanity"  should  be 
found  in  all  his  acts. 

The  apprehensions  already  noticed  for  the  safety  of  the  little 
army  on  the  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande  were  increased,  by  the 
fact,  that  bodies  of  Mexican  troops,  thrown  between  it  and  Point 
Isabel,  had  wholly  debarred  all  intercommunication.  To 
wards  the  close  of  April,  there  were  reports  of  a  contemplated 
attack  on  this  place.  General  Taylor  shared  the  anxiety  on  the 
latter  account — and  he  accordingly  sent  a  despatch  to  the 
governors  of  Louisiana  and  Texas,  asking  an  immediate  rein- 


RELIEF    FOR    POINT    ISABEL.  107 

forcement  of  four  regiments  of  volunteers  from  each  state. 
From  the  time  he  had  left  Point  Isabel,  while  on  the  march 
from  Corpus  Christi,  Major  Munroe,  who  was  in  command  of 
that  station,  had  been  reinforced  by  a  small  body  of  Texan 
volunteers.  Captain  Walker,  with  a  company  of  rangers,  was 
among  them,  and  occasion  now  offered  for  him  to  commence 
the  career,  in  the  Mexican  war,  which  he  has  since  followed 
with  singular  credit  to  his  patriotism  and  courage.  A  wagon 
train,  under  the  escort  of  Captain  Walker,  having  been  driven 
back,  with  severe  loss,  while  on  the  way  from  Point  Isabel  to 
the  camp,  by  a  large  body  of  Mexican  troops,  who  pursued 
the  fugitive  party  to  the  neighbourhood  of  the  former  post, 
Major  Munroe  was  anxious  to  give  General  Taylor  immediate 
advice  of  the  fact.  To  this  perilous  service,  Captain  Walker 
volunteered,  and  safely  accomplished  it.  The  danger  which 
menaced  Point  Isabel  was  now  too  imminent  to  admit  delay 
in  relieving  it,  and  General  Taylor,  therefore,  resolved  on 
marching  thither,  immediately,  with  his  whole  force,  except 
the  seventh  regiment  of  infantry,  and  Captain  Bragg's  and 
Captain  Lowd's  companies  of  artillery,  which  were  to  occupy 
Fort  Brown,  then  sufficiently  complete  to  sustain  a  bombard 
ment.  The  cost  of  this  movement  was  fully  counted  by  the 
general ; — but  he  was  prepared  for  any  exigency,  and  resolved 
to  meet  any  force  which  the  enemy  might  bring  against  him. 


108  TAYLOR  LEAVES  THE  RIO  GRANDE. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Rejoicing  in  Matamoros — Arista,  with  his  Forces,  crosses  the  River — His  Dis 
appointment  at  Taylor's  Escape — Mexican  Narrative  of  both  Movements — 
Ardour  of  the  Mexicans — Terror  of  the  Americans — Their  Duplicity  and 
Treachery — Taylor's  Ignominy — Bombardment  of  Fort  Brown — Taylor's  In- 
structions— May's  and  Walker's  Mission — New  Mexican  Batteries — Their  Fire 
not  returned- — Mexican  Account  of  the  Bombardment — Eternal  Honour  of 
Mexican  Artillery-men — Barbarous  Pleasure  of  the  Americans — Their  Coward 
ice  and  Stupidity — Mexican  Triumph — American  Loss — Mexican  Superiority 
— Continuation  of  the  Bombardment — Death  of  Major  Brown — New  Mexican 
Batteries — Captain  Hawkins  summoned  to  Surrender — Arista's  modest  Letter 
— Hawkins'  presumptuous  Answer — Want  of  Ammunition — Preparations 
for  an  Assault— Weariness  of  the  Men  in  the  Fort— Signals  of  Relief. 

THE  first  of  May,  1846,  was  a  day  of  great  exultation  among 
the  good  people  of  Matamoros.  All  classes  forsook  their  oc 
cupations,  and  gathered  on  the  banks  of  the  river.  The  merry 
bells  were  rung,  and  public  joy  was  manifested  by  all  modes 
known  to  the  sanguine  denizens  of  a  tropical  town.  It  so  hap 
pened,  that  his  excellency,  Don  Mariano  Arista,  general-in- 
chief  of  the  division  of  the  north,  had  chosen  the  same  bright 
morning  to  order  a  large  body  of  his  troops  across  the  Rio 
Grande,  that  General  Taylor  had  chosen  to  march  to  the  relief 
of  Point  Isabel.  A  retrograde  movement,  on  the  part  of  the 
Americans,  at  any  moment,  would  have  been  hailed  by  their 
confident  neighbours  as  evidence  of  doubt  and  apprehension. 
But  occurring  simultaneously  with  the  advance  of  their  own 
forces  to  the  left  side  of  the  river,  the  cheering  conclusion  was 
drawn,  that  the  terror-stricken  army  of  the  United  States  was 
flying  before  the  brilliant  legions  of  Mexico.  The  latter  had 
selected  a  ford  for  crossing,  several  miles  above  the  camp  of 
the  former,  and  were,  therefore,  so  far  in  the  rear  of  the  sup 
posed  fugitives,  that  their  retreat  could  not  be  cut  ofF.  This 
was  a  disappointment ;  but  the  anxiety  to  chastise  the  invaders 
was  in  a  measure  allayed,  by  the  circumstance,  that  General 
Taylor,  in  his  precipitous  flight,  had  left  a  small  body  of  men 
in  Fort  Brown.  To  reduce  these  to  the  humiliation  of  sur- 


MEXICAN    VIEWS    OF    HIS    MAR 


CH.        109 


rendering  would  be  an  easy  and  a  glorious  task  ;  so  thought 
his  excellency  (General  Arista)  and  his  worthy  compatriots. 
Perhaps  the  best  illustration  of  this  comfortable  assurance  is 
found  in  the  annexed  extract  of  a  document,  published  in  El 
Monitor  Republicano,  of  Matamoros,  on  the  4th  of  May.  « 

"  On  the  first  of  this  month,  at  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
the  general-in-chief  left  this  place  to  join  the  army,  who,  several 
hours  before,  had  left  with  the  intention  of  crossing  the  river 
at  a  short  distance  from  the  camp  of  the  enemy.  In  consequence 
of  the  orders  given,  so  that  this  dangerous  operation  might  be 
performed  with  due  security,  and  according  to  the  rules  of 
military  art,  when  our  troops  arrived  at  the  spot  designated  for 
the  crossing  of  the  river,  the  left  bank  was  already  occupied 
by  General  D.  Anastasio  Torrejon,  with  all  the  force  under  his 
command.  The  enthusiasm  of  our  soldiers  to  conquer  the 
obstacles  which  separated  them  from  the  enemy  was  so  great, 
that  they  showed  themselves  impatient  of  the  delay  occasioned 
by  the  bad  condition  of  some  of  the  flat-boats,  which  had  been 
very  much  injured  in  the  transportation  by  land,  and  could  not 
be  used,  as  they  would  fill  up  with  water  as  soon  as  they  were 
launched.  In  spite  of  that  obstacle,  the  work  went  on  with 
such  activity,  and  so  great  was  the  ardour  of  the  most  excel 
lent  general-in-chief,  whose  orders  were  obeyed  with  the 
greatest  promptness  and  precision,  that  a  few  hours  were  suffi 
cient  to  transport,  to  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Bravo,  a  strong 
division,  with  all  its  artillery  and  train. 

"  This  rapid  and  well-combined  movement  ought  to  have 
proved  to  the  invaders  not  only  that  the  Mexicans  possess  in 
struction  and  aptness  for  war,  but  that  those  qualities  are  now 
brought  forth  by  the  purest  patriotism.  The  Northern  Division, 
fearless  of  fatigue,  and  levelling  all  difficulties,  ran  to  seek  an 
enemy  who,  well  sheltered  under  parapets,  and  defended  with 
guns  of  a  large  calibre,  could  wait  for  the  attack  with  indis 
putable  advantage.  With  deep  trenches,  with  a  multitude  of 
fortifications,  the  defence  was  easy  against  those  who  presented 
themselves  with  their  naked  breasts. 

"  But  General  Taylor  dared  not  resist  the  valour  and  enthu- 
10 


110     HOW  HE  CHANCED  TO  ESCAPE. 

siasm  of  the  sons  of  Mexico.  Well  did  he  foresee  the  intre 
pidity  with  which  our  soldiers  would  rush  against  the  usurpers 
of  the  national  territory.  Well  did  he  know  the  many  injuries 
which  were  to  be  avenged  by  those  who  had  taken  up  arms, 
not  to  aggrandize  themselves  with  the  spoils  of  the  property  of 
others,  but  to  maintain  the  independence  of  their  country. 
Well  did  he  know,  we  repeat  it,  that  the  Mexicans  would  be 
stopped  neither  by  trenches,  or  fortresses,  or  large  artillery. 
Thus  it  was  that  the  chief  of  the  American  forces,  frightened 
as  soon  as  he  perceived  from  the  situation  and  proximity  of 
his  camp,  that  our  army  were  preparing  to  cross  the  river,  left 
with  precipitation  for  Point  Isabel,  with  almost  all  his  troops, 
eight  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a  few  wagons.  Their  march  was 
observed  from  our  position,  and  the  most  excellent  General  D. 
Francisco  Mejia  immediately  sent  an  express  extraordinary  to 
communicate  the  news  to  the  most  excellent  general-in-chief. 
Here  let  me  pay  to  our  brave  men  the  tribute  which  they  de 
serve.  The  express  verbally  informed  some  of  the  troops, 
which  had  not  yet  arrived  at  the  ford,  of  the  escape  of  the 
Americans;  in  one  instant,  all  the  soldiers  spontaneously 
crossed  the  river,  almost  racing  one  with  another.  Such  was 
the  ardour  with  which  they  crossed  the  river  to  attack  the 
enemy. 

"  The  terror  and  haste  with  which  the  latter  fled  to  the  fort, 
to  shut  themselves  up  in  it  and  avoid  a  conflict,  frustrated  the 
active  measures  of  the  most  excellent  Senor  General  Arista, 
which  were  to  order  the  cavalry  to  advance  in  the  plain  and 
cut  off  the  flight  of  the  fugitives.  But  it  was  not  possible  to 
do  so,  notwithstanding  their  forced  march  during  the  night. 
General  Taylor  left  his  camp  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
and,  as  fear  has  wings,  he  succeeded  in  shutting  himself  up  in 
the  fort.  When  our  cavalry  reached  the  point  where  they  were 
to  detain  him,  he  had  already  passed,  and  was  several  leagues 
ahead.  Great  was  the  sorrow  of  our  brave  men  not  to  have 
been  able  to  meet  the  enemy  face  to  face ;  their  defeat  was 
certain,  and  the  main  body  of  that  invading  army,  who  thought 
that  they  inspired  the  Mexicans  with  so  much  respect,  would 


TAYLOR    REACHES     POINT    ISABEL.       Ill 

have  disappeared  in  the  first  important  battle.  But  there  was 
some  fighting  to  be  done ;  and  the  Americans  do  not  know 
how  to  use  other  arms  but  those  of  duplicity  and  treachery. 
Why  did  they  not  remain  with  firmness  under  their  colours  ? 
Why  did  they  abandon  the  ground  which  they  pretend  to  usurp 
with  such  iniquity  ?  Thus  has  an  honourable  general  kept  his 
word.  Had  not  General  Taylor  said,  in  all  his  communica 
tions,  that  he  was  prepared  to  repel  all  hostilities  ?  Why,  then, 
does  he  fly  in  so  cowardly  a  manner  to  shut  himself  up  at  the 
Point  ?  The  commander-in-chief  of  the  American  army  has 
covered  himself  with  opprobrium  and  ignominy  in  sacrificing 
a  part  of  his  forces,  whom  he  left  in  the  fortifications,  to  save 
himself;  for  it  is  certain  that  he  will  not  return  to  their  assist 
ance — not  that  he  is  ignorant  of  their  peril,  but  he  calculates 
that  this  would  be  greater  if  he  had  the  temerity  of  attempting 
to  resist  the  Mexican  lances  and  bayonets  in  the  open  plain." 
Before  the  publication  of  this  bold  and  sarcastic  paper, 
General  Taylor,  fortunately  for  his  feelings  as  well  as  his  se 
curity,  had  reached  Point  Isabel.  Meanwhile,  on  the  3d  in 
stant,  a  Mexican  battery  had  opened  a  fire  upon  Fort  Brown, 
which  its  brave  commander,  Major  Jacob  Brown,  returned  so 
effectually  that  the  guns  of  the  former  were  very  speedily 
silenced.  Before  leaving  the  fort,  General  Taylor  had  satisfied 
himself  of  its  ability  to  sustain  a  bombardment,  but  to  be  pre 
pared  for  its  relief,  he  ordered  that,  in  case  of  an  assault,  heavy 
signal  guns  should  be  fired  at  stated  intervals,  which  would 
apprise  him  at  Point  Isabel  of  its  condition.  When  the  firing 
of  the  Mexican  guns,  on  the  3d,  was  heard  at  the  latter  place, 
General  Taylor's  anxiety  to  know  their  effect,  and  the  prospect 
of  the  fort  sustaining  the  bombardment,  determined  him  to 
despatch  a  troop  of  horse  to  ascertain  these  facts.  One  hundred 
dragoons  under  Captain  May,  and  ten  Texan  Rangers  under 
Captain  Walker,  were  detailed  for  this  duty,  with  orders  to  the 
former  to  proceed  within  six  miles  of  the  fort,  (carefully 
avoiding  the  enemy,  who  then  overran  the  whole  intermediate 
country,)  and  there  to  remain,  if  circumstances  permitted, 
while  the  Rangers,  under  cover  of  the  night,  should  continue 


112  FORT    BROWN    BOMBARDED. 

on  to  the  fort,  and  communicate  with  Major  Brown.  This 
dangerous  service  was  safely  and  satisfactorily  performed, 
although  Captain  Walker  was  obliged  to  return  to  Point  Isabel 
with  no  other  force  than  his  own  ten  men. 

The  fire  from  the  Mexican  batteries,  erected  at  different 
points,  having  been  resumed,  Major  Brown  found  that  his  six- 
pounders,  owing  to  the  distance,  did  little  execution,  and 
wishing  to  husband  his  ammunition,  and  the  strength  of  his 
men,  the  enemy's  fire  was  not  returned.  This  fact  was  too 
flattering  to  their  pride  and  hopes  to  be  properly  understood ; 
and  the  subjoined  bulletin  of  the  first  day's  work  was  issued 
from  the  Matamoros  press,  and  received  with  becoming  delight 
and  admiration  by  the  populace. 

"But  let  us  relate  the  glorious  events  of  yesterday.  As 
Aurora  dawned,  we  began  to  fire  from  our  ramparts  on  the  for 
tifications  of  the  enemy,  and  the  thunder  of  Mexican  cannon 
was  saluted  by  the  reveille  from  every  point  of  our  line,  by  the 
bell  of  the  parochial  church,  and  by  the  vivas  of  the  inhabit 
ants  of  Matamoros.  In  a  moment  the  streets  were  filled,  and 
all  were  rejoiced  to  see  at  last  the  hour  arrived,  when  we  were 
to  give  a  terrible  lesson  to  the  American  camp,  whose  odious 
presence  could  no  longer  be  tolerated.  The  enemy  answered, 
but  they  were  soon  convinced  that  their  artillery,  although  of 
a  superior  calibre,  could  not  compete  with  ours.  After  a  fire 
of  five  hours,  our  ramparts  remained  immovable,  on  account 
of  the  solidity  of  their  construction,  and  the  intelligence  with 
which  the  rules  of  art  had  been  observed.  The  same  did  not 
happen  to  the  American  fortifications,  whose  bastions  were  so 
completely  demolished,  that  towards  eleven  o'clock  in  the 
morning  their  artillery  ceased  to  play,  and  their  fire  was  hushed. 
We  continued  to  fire  with  activity  during  the  day,  without  the 
enemy's  daring  to  respond  to  us,  because  the  parapets  under 
which  they  would  shelter  themselves  being  destroyed,  they  had 
not  courage  to  load  their  guns,  which  remained  uncovered. 
This  result  shows  us  of  what  in  reality  consists  the  exalted 
skill  of  the  American  artillerists.  They  have  eighteen-pounders, 
and  we  have  nothing  larger  than  eight-pounders ;  and  yet  the 


MEXICAN    IDEAS    OF    ITS    DEFENCE.      113 

intelligence  and  practice  of  the  Mexicans  sufficed  to  conquer 
those  who  had  superior  arms.  Unequalled  glory  and  eternal 
honour  to  our  brave  artillerymen. 

"  The  enemy,  in  their  impotent  rage,  and  before  they  con 
cealed  their  shame  behind  the  most  distant  parapets,  had  the 
barbarous  pleasure  of  aiming  their  guns  towards  the  city,  to 
destroy  its  edifices,  as  it  was  not  in  their  power  to  destroy  the 
fortifications  from  which  they  received  so  much  injury.  This 
wicked  revenge,  which  only  springs  from  cowardly  and  misera 
ble  souls,  did  not  meet  with  the  success  expected  by  those  who 
so  unworthily  adorn  themselves  with  the  title  of  savans  and 
philanthropists.  Their  stupidity  was  equal  to  their  wickedness. 
Almost  all  the  balls  passed  too  high;  and  those  which  touched 
the  houses,  although  they  were  eighteen-pounders,  did  not 
cause  any  other  mischief  but  that  of  piercing  one  or  two  walls. 
If  those  who  conceived  the  infamous  design  of  destroying 
Matamoros,  had  seen  the  contemptuous  laughter  with  which 
the  owners  of  those  houses  showed  their  indifference  for  the 
losses  which  they  might  sustain,  they  would  have  admired  the 
patriotism  and  disinterestedness  of  the  Mexicans,  always  ready 
to  undergo  the  greatest  sacrifices,  when  it  is  necessary  to  main 
tain  their  nationality  and  independence.  The  glorious  3d  of 
May  is  another  brilliant  testimony  of  this  truth ;  through  the 
thickest  of  the  firing,  one  could  remark  the  most  ardent  enthu 
siasm  on  all  faces,  and  hardly  had  a  ball  fallen,  when  even  the 
children  would  look  for  it,  without  fearing  that  another  aimed 
in  the  same  manner  should  fall  in  the  same  place.  That  we 
saw  ourselves  in  the  public  square,  where  a  multitude  of  citi 
zens  were  assembled. 

"  The  triumph  of  our  arms  has  been  complete,  and  we  have 
only  to  lament  the  loss  of  a  sergeant  and  two  artillerymen,  who 
fell  gloriously  in  fighting  for  their  country.  The  families  of 
those  victims  ought  to  be  taken  care  of  by  the  supreme  govern 
ment,  to  whose  paternal  gratitude  they  have  been  recommended 
by  the  most  excellent  senor  general-in-chief.  We  must  also 
be  consoled  by  the  thought  that  the  blood  of  these  brave  men 
has  been  revenged  by  their  bereaved  companions.  As  many 

10  •_ 


114  MEXICO    GLORIFIES    HERSELF. 

f  '••f*^' 

of  our  balls  passed  through  the  enemy's  embrasures,  the  loss 
to  the  Americans  must  have  been  very  great ;  and  although 
we  do  not  know  exactly  the  number  of  their  dead,  the  most 
accurate  information  makes  it  amount  to  fifty-six.  It  is  proba 
ble  that  such  is  the  case.  Since  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
the  abandonment  of  their  guns,  merely  because  two  of  them 
were  dismounted,  and  the  others  were  uncovered ;  the  panic- 
terror  with  which,  in  all  haste,  they  took  refuge  in  their  furthest 
entrenchments,  taking  away  from  the  camp  all  that  could  suffer 
from  the  attack  of  our  artillery ;  the  destruction  which  must 
have  been  occasioned  by  the  bombs  so  well  aimed,  that  some 
would  burst  at  a  yard's  distance  from  the  ground  in  their  de 
scent  to  the  point  where  they  were  to  fall ;  every  thing  contri 
butes  to  persuade  that  indeed  the  enemy  have  suffered  a  terri 
ble  loss.  If  it  were  not  the  case — if  they  preserved  some 
remnant  of  valour,  why  did  they  not  dare  to  repair  their  forti 
fications  in  the  night  ?  It  is  true  that,  from  time  to  time,  a  few 
guns  were  fired  on  them  in  the  night,  but  their  aim  could  not 
be  certain,  and  cowardice  alone  could  force  them  not  to  put 
themselves  in  an  attitude  to  return  the  fire  which  was  poured 
on  them  again  at  daylight.  No  American  put  out  his  head ; 
silence  reigned  in  their  camp ;  and  for  this  reason  we  have 
suspended  our  fire  to-day — that  there  is  no  enemy  to  meet  our 
batteries. 

"  To  conclude,  we  will  give  a  brilliant  paragraph  relating  to 
the  contest,  by  the  most  excellent  senor  general-in-chief,  as  to 
the  part  which  he  took  in  the  events  of  yesterday.  He  says 
thus :  <  Mexico  must  glorify  herself,  and  especially  the  valiant 
men  of  the  Division  of  the  North,  that  a  force  inferior  in  its 
elements,  and  perhaps  in  numbers  also,  and  which  required 
nearly  two  months  to  swell  itself  with  the  auxiliaries  coming 
from  the  capital,  should  meet  in  an  immense  plain,  defying  the 
army  of  the  United  States,  and  the  whole  power  of  that  re 
public,  without  their  opponents,  who  could  receive  succour  in 
the  space  of  fifty  hours,  should  dare  to  leave  the  fort  to  give 
us  battle.' 

"From  the  news  which  we  publish  to-day,  it  will  be  seen 


MEXICANS    INTIMIDATE    AMERICA.      115 

that  the  Northern  Division,  so  deservedly  entrusted  with  the 
first  operations  against  the  North  American  army,  has  most 
nobly  filled  its  highly  important  mission.  Not  that  we  mean 
to  be  understood  as  considering  its  task  is  yet  fully  completed, 
but  we  anticipate,  before  the  end  of  the  present  week,  to  wit 
ness  the  total  discomfiture  of  the  enemy,  who  has  had  the 
temerity  to  answer  the  fire  of  our  batteries :  of  those  batteries 
that  gave  them  yesterday  such  abundant  proof  of  that  valour, 
so  characteristic  of  the  Mexicans :  a  valour  rendered  famous 
in  a  hundred  bloody  contests  !  It  were  endless  to  recount  all 
the  acts  of  patriotism  performed  by  the  troops  of  the  garrison, 
and  the  valiant  citizens  who  shared  in  the  defence  of  the  city — 
they  courted  danger  with  that  intrepidity  always  inspired  by  a 
just  cause. 

"  So  rapid  is  the  fire  of  our  guns,  that  the  latteries  of  the 
enemy  have  been  silenced.  But  what  is  most  worthy  of  notice, 
as  showing  the  great  enthusiasm  of  this  place,  is  the  fact  that 
many  of  the  inhabitants,  of  both  sexes,  in  the  hottest  of  the 
cannonade,  remained  firm  in  front  of  the  enemy,  filled  with 
enthusiasm ;  indeed,  fear  is  always  unknown  to  those  whose 
mission  is  to  avenge  an  outrage  upon  the  sacred  rights  of  their 
beloved  country. 

"  From  our  account  of  the  war,  the  world  will  judge  of  the 
great  superiority  of  our  troops,  in  courage  as  well  as  skill,  over 
the  Americans.  It  is  indeed  wonderful  to  witness  the  dismay 
of  the  enemy :  rare  is  the  occurrence  when  an  American  ven 
tures  outside  of  the  breastwork.  There  can  be  no  doubt  of 
this,  that  the  Mexicans  will  be  considered  by  foreign  nations 
as  the  very  emblems  of  patriotism.  How  evident  that  they  in 
herit  the  blood  of  the  noble  sons  of  Pelayo  !  Happy  they  who 
have  met  with  so  glorious  a  death  in  defending  the  territory 
bequeathed  to  them  by  their  fathers ! 

"  The  nation  with  which  we  are  at  war  is  most  savage  in  its 
proceedings ;  no  regard  being  paid  to  the  flags  of  friendly  na 
tions  :  even  those  usages  and  customs  respected  by  civilized 
nations,  to  divest  war  of  some  of  its  horrors,  have  been  shame 
fully  disregarded.  The  enemy  have  fired  red  shot  against  this 


116      ATTACK  UPON  FORT  BROWN. 

innocent  city,  and  we  publish  it  to  the  world  in  proof  that, 
with  all  their  boasted  wisdom  and  liberty,  they  are  unworthy 
of  being  counted  among  enlightened  nations. 

"His  excellency,  the  general-in- chief  of  the  Northern  Divi 
sion,  and  his  intrepid  soldiers,  are  ready  to  fight  the  enemy  in 
any  numbers,  and  we  are  certain  that  our  arms  will  be  success 
ful  ;  but  the  nation  against  whom  we  have  to  contend  is  exces 
sively  proud ;  and  it  is  also  possessed  of  resources  which  may 
perhaps  surpass  those  within  our  reach.  Let  us  then  make  an 
immense  effort  to  repel  their  aggressions.  Let  us  contribute 
every  thing  most  dear  to  us,  our  persons,  our  means,  to  save 
our  country  from  its  present  danger.  Let  us  oppose  to  the 
unbridled  ambition  of  the  Anglo-American  that  patriotic  en 
thusiasm  so  peculiar  to  us.  Indeed,  we  need  only  follow  the 
glorious  example  of  Matamoros,  that  noble  city,  which  will  be 
known  in  future  by  the  name  of  Heroic.  Its  inhabitants  have 
emulated  the  examples  of  Menamia  and  Saguntum ;  they  have 
determined  to  die  at  the  foot  of  the  eagle  of  Anahuac,  defend 
their  fort  whilst  they  retain  the  breath  of  life — :this  plan  is 
settled.  The  supreme  government  is  making  strenuous  exer 
tions  in  order  to  protect  the  territory  placed  under  its  care  by 
the  nation,  and  nothing  is  now  wanting  but  for  the  people  to 
rush  in  a  mass  to  the  frontier,  and  the  independence  of  Mexico 
is  safe." 

On  the  morning  of  the  5th,  a  battery  was  discovered  in  the 
rear  of  Fort  Brown,  which  a  large  body  of  the  enemy,  having 
crossed  the  river,  had  erected  during  the  night.  It  opened  a 
severe  fire,  and,  at  the  same  time,  a  tremendous  discharge  of 
shell  and  shot  was  maintained  from  the  guns  at  Matamoros. 
Both  were  answered  efficiently,  their  position  being  within 
range  of  the  heavy  guns  of  the  fort.  Major  Brown  had  caused 
bomb-proof  shelters  to  be  erected  for  the  men,  to  which  they 
retreated  when  the  shells  were  bursting  within  the  entrench 
ments.  The  great  extent  of  the  works  over  which  the  men 
weje  scattered,  and  this  precaution,  rendered  almost  abortive  the 
cannonading  of  the  enemy,  which  was  maintained  for  days  with 
great  spirit  and  precision.  Among  the  first,  and  very  few, 
*  -'  , 


MAJOR    BROWN    WOUNDED.  117 

however,  who  were  victims  of  the  storm,  was  the  excellent  and 
gallant  commander  himself.  In  the  midst  of  an  incessant  cross 
fire  from  the  Mexican  batteries  on  both  shores  of  the  river,  he 
was  making  his  usual  round  of  the  works,  and  assuring  him 
self  that  the  men  were  at  their  posts,  when  he  was  struck 
by  a  shell,  which  tore  off  one  of  his  legs,  inflicting  a  mortal 
injury.  He  was  borne  to  the  hospital,  suffering  excruciating 
torture  ;  but,  forgetful  of  himself,  he  still  cheered  the  men  in 
their  duty.  The  shattered  limb  was  amputated ;  and,  while 
under  the  operation,  he  expressed  his  gratification  that  his 
country  had  not  lost  a  younger  man.  A  veteran  in  the  servicet 
he  could  die  calmly  as  he  had  lived  nobly,  devoted  to  the  latest 
moment  to  his  country  and  the  honour  of  her  arms." 

Meanwhile,  the  enemy  grew  bolder,  under  the  impression 
that  their  guns  were  rapidly  destroying  the  entire  command  in 
the  fort.  Large  bodies  of  them  surrounded  it,  and  the  erection 
of  another  battery  was  commenced  on  the  site  of  General  Tay 
lor's  camp.  Captain  Hawkins  succeeded  Major  Brown,  and 
this  was  judged  by  Arista  to  be  a  favourable  moment  for  a 
summons  to  surrender.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  6th,  he  ac 
cordingly  sounded  a  parley ;  and,  under  the  protection  of  a 
white  flag,  sent  the  following  note,  the  merits  of  which  would 
suffer  by  description  or  abridgment : 

«  Mexican  Army,  Division  of  the  North. 

"  GENERAL-IN-CHIEF: — 

"  You  are  besieged  by  forces  sufficient  to  take  you ;  and 
there  is,  moreover,  a  numerous  division  encamped  near  you, 
which,  free  from  all  other  cares,  will  keep  off  any  succours 
which  you  may  expect  to  receive. 

"  The  respect  for  humanity,  acknowledged  at  the  present 
age  by  all  civilized  nations,  doubtless  imposes  upon  me  the 
duty  of  mitigating  the  disasters  of  war. 

"This  principle,  which  Mexicans  observe  above  all  other 
nations,  obliges  me  to  summon  you,  as  all  your  efforts  will  be 
useless,  to  surrender,  in  order  to  avoid,  by  a  capitulation,  the 
entire  destruction  of  all  the  soldiers  under  your  command. 


118  A    HUMANE    OFFER    REJECTED. 

«  You  will  thus  afford  me  the  pleasure  of  complying  with 
the  mild  and  benevolent  wishes  above  expressed,  which  dis 
tinguish  the  character  of  my  countrymen,  whilst  I,  at  the  same 
time,  fulfil  the  most  imperious  of  the  duties  which  my  country 
requires  for  the  offences  committed  against  it. 

"  MARIANO  ARISTA. 

«  God  and  Liberty ! 
«  Head  Quarters  at  the  Tonques  Del  Raminero,  May  6,  1846." 

To  this  missive,  more  preposterous  in  sentiment  than  futile 
in  purpose,  Captain  Hawkins  replied,  that  he  had  duly  con 
sidered  its  humane  proposition,  which,  if  he  correctly  under 
stood,  he  respectfully  declined.  Resolved  to  make  good  his 
threat,  Arista  now  redoubled  the  work  of  his  batteries,  and 
their  balls  were  hailed,  for  successive  hours,  into  the  fort.  The 
ammunition  in  the  latter,  although  prudently  used  from  the 
first,  was  so  far  reduced,  that  no  reply  was  made  to  the  guns 
of  the  Mexicans.  Their  troops,  elated  by  this  circumstance, 
were  seen  in  great  numbers  on  every  side  of  the  American 
works.  Through  the  night  the  firing  ceased,  but  the  garrison 
watched  constantly,  expecting  an  assault.  The  next  day,  the 
7th,  the  bombardment  was  vigorously  maintained,  two  or  three 
men  being  wounded  and  several  horses  killed,  from  time  to  time, 
by  the  explosion  of  the  shells.  Again  at  night  a  watch  was 
kept  in  anticipation  of  an  assault,  which  had  been  determined  by 
the  Mexican  general,  who,  to  justify  his  professions  of  personal 
and  national  valour,  had  a  corps  organized  and  inspected 
for  the  purpose.  Under  cover  of  the  darkness,  Captain  Mans 
field  levelled  the  traverse  thrown  up  by  General  Worth,  and 
cut  down  the  chapparal  which  screened  the  enemy's  sharp 
shooters. 

Continual  watching  and  labour  had  begun  to  weary  the 
Americans.  They  had  become  familiarized,  during  four  days, 
to  the  roar  of  heavy  ordnance,  and  to  the  falling  of  balls  among 
them.  Their  orders  were,  not  to  fire  unless  the  enemy  ap 
proached  within  eighty  yards  of  the  fort,  and  this  condition 
never  occurring,  they  were  obliged  silently  to  watch  the  efforts 
to  destroy  them.  It  was  a  duty  to  test  in  the  severest  manner 


m 

RETURN    FROM    POINT    ISABEL.  119 

their  courage  and  fortitude  ;  yet  not  a  man  faltered,  and  many 
were  the  examples  of  heroic  indifference  to  danger.  Four  days 
and  nights  the  iron  tempest  raged  on  all  sides  with  little  inter 
mission.  Soon  after  its  commencement  the  signal  cannon,  as 
directed  by  General  Taylor,  had  been  fired,  to  warn  him  of  in 
creasing  peril  to  the  friends  whom  he  had  left.  At  mid-day, 
on  the  8th  of  May,  there  was  a  pause  in  the  thunder  of  the 
Mexican  guns.  Two  hours  passed,  and  other  guns  were  heard, 
sending  their  rapid  echoes  afar  from  the  north-east.  To  the 
beleaguered  Americans  there  was  sympathy  and  succour  in 
those  deep  and  distant  sounds.  A  shout  of  joy  and  hope  went 
up  from  the  fort. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

•  •  "V-- 

General  Taylor  leaves  Point  Isabel  for  Fort  Brown — His  Force — The  March- 
Enemy  reported — Rest  before  battle — Palo  Alto — Enemy  in  sight — Taylor's 
order  of  battle — Lieut.  Blake's  bold  reconnoissance — Taylor's  confidence- 
Arista's  Force  and  order  of  battle — The  Enemy's  first  Fire — The  Answer  and 
its  Effect— Charge  by  the  Lancers— Their  repulse— Fall  of  Ringgold— The 
Prairie  on  fire — Charge  on  the  Train — Duncan's  Battery — May's  gallantry — 
The  last  Charge— The  Field  won— The  Loss— Taylor's  first  Despatch— His 
detailed  account  of  the  Action — Mention  of  Lieut.  Blake — Of  the  Artillery 
— Of  Lieut.  Luther — Statement  of  Forces — Arista's  Despatch — Misstatement 
of  his  Force — Explanations  of  Failure — False  colouring — Acknowledgment 
of  Loss — Remarks  on  the  causes  of  the  Victory. 

GENERAL  Taylor  had  tarried  a  week  at  Point  Isabel,  placing 
that  post  in  a  state  of  defence,  and  making  the  requisite  pre 
parations  to  conduct  a  large  train  of  supplies  to  the  camp,  which 
he  had  temporarily  left,  opposite  Matamoros.  Booming  across 
the  wide  prairie,  which  separated  him  from  the  gallant  defenders 
of  Fort  Brown,  he  had  heard  the  deep-mouthed  cannon,  which 
invited  his  return.  But  he  never  doubted  that  the  trust  he  had 
left  would  be  faithfully  kept  while  an  arm  could  be  raised  to 
maintain  it.  The  sun  of  the  7th  of  May  was  declining,  when, 
at  the  head  of  twenty-three  hundred  men,  and  with  a  supply 


* 

120       APPROACH  TO  PALO  ALTO. 

train  of  nearly  three  hundred  wagons,  he  again  turned  his  face 
towards  the  Rio  Grande.  Two  eighteen-pound  guns,  mounted 
on  siege-carriages  and  drawn  by  ten  yoke  of  oxen,  moved 
laboriously  on,  in  contrast  with  the  eight  light  pieces  of  Ring- 
gold's  and  Duncan's  Flying  Artillery.  Only  two  hundred 
sabres  made  the  array  of  his  cavalry,  and  eighteen  hundred 
muskets  told  the  complement  of  his  infantry  force.  Twenty- 
seven  miles  separated  him  from  the  position  which  he  had  oc 
cupied  upon  its  banks,  and  after  a  march  of  one-fourth  the  dis 
tance  he  bivouacked  till  the  following  morning.  Through  the 
silent  watches,  if  the  distant  voice  of  the  enemy's  batteries  told 
how  they  still  menaced  the  destruction  of  the  fort,  it  also 
cheered  our  troops  on  their  way  to  its  relief,  assuring  them  by 
every  echo,  that  their  comrades  were  safe  and 

«  Giving  proof  through  the  night  that  our  flag  still  was  there !" 

As  the  day  dawned  again,  the  march  was  resumed,  and  con 
tinued  without  interruption  till  nearly  noon.  At  this  hour 
fatigue  might  have  suggested  repose,  but  just  then  the  scouts 
reported  the  Mexicans  drawn  up  at  the  farther  verge  of  a  prairie, 
prepared  to  oppose  the  progress  of  the  American  army.  The 
news  gave  fresh  vigour  to  the  troops,  anxious  to  prove  to  an 
enemy,  who  had  accused  them  of  a  cowardly  retreat,  how  far  the 
reproach  was  merited.  The  columns  continued  to  advance,  and 
a  plain  three  miles  wide  extended  before  them.  General  Tay 
lor  awaited  the  coming  of  the  main  body  and  then  ordered  a 
halt.  To  prepare  for  the  expected  conflict,  he  gave  the  men 
an  hour  to  rest,  while,  from  the  pools  of  fresh  water  near  them, 
they  quenched  their  present  thirst,  and  filled  their  canteens, 
which  were  afterwards  drained  by  many  a  wounded  and  weary 
foe.  The  train,  remaining  in  the  rear,  was  formed  into  a  solid 
square. 

At  two  o'clock  the  order  passed  along  the  columns  to  ad 
vance.  The  limbs,  pained  by  leagues  of  travel,  forgot  their 
toil,  and  moved  on  as  if  just  risen  from  the  long  repose  of  a 
home-spent  night.  And  the  backs,  which  had  bent  from  sun 
rise  to  meridian  beneath  a  soldier's  arms  and  burden,  were 


% 

TAYLOR'S  ORDER  OF  BATTLE.    121 

straightened  up  as  if  conscious  only  of  the  pride  of  a  holiday 
suit.  The  field  widened  before  the  moving  troops ;  and  its 
further  boundary  was  a  dwarfish  wood,  rising  but  little  above 
the  feebler  vegetation  of  that  barren  waste.  But  seeming  high 
by  contrast,  it  is  so  called,  and  gives  to  the  spot  the  name  of 
Palo  Mto.  As  the  columns  pressed  forward,  another  bristling 
forest  was  indistinctly  seen  in  front  of  that  stunted  wood.  It 
was  the  long  line  of  Arista's  army,  posted  in  hostile  array  to 
forbid  the  progress  of  Taylor's  meagre  battalions.  The  dis 
tance  was  too  great  to  distinguish  the  different  corps,  but  as 
the  sun  shone  upon  them,  the  fitful  glitter  of  each  extreme 
told  where  the  pride  of  Mexico  was  stationed — her  squadrons 
of  brilliant  lancers. 

To  be  prepared  for  the  enemy,  Taylor  thus  disposed  his 
force.  Beginning  with  the  right  wing,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Twiggs,  were  the  Fifth  Infantry,  under  Colonel  M'Intosh ; 
Ringgold's  Artillery  ;  the  Third  Infantry,  under  Capt.  Morris  ; 
two  eighteen-pounders,  under  Lieutenant  Churchill;  Fourth 
Infantry,  under  Major  Allen ;  two  squadrons  of  Dragoons, 
under  Captains  Ker  and  May.  The  left  wing,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Belknap,  was  formed  of  a  battalion  of  Artillery,  under 
Colonel  Childs ;  Duncan's  Light  Artillery  ;  and  the  Eighth 
Infantry,  under  Captain  Montgomery.  The  army  advancing 
in  this  order,  Lieutenant  Blake,  of  the  Topographical  Engi 
neers,  suddenly  dashed  forward,  and,  leaving  it  in  the  rear, 
did  not  pause  until  his  horse  brought  him  within  a  hundred  and 
fifty  yards  of  the  enemy's  lines.  There  dismounting,  he  calmly 
drew  forth  his  spy-glass,  and  reconnoitred  them.  So  daring 
an  act  deceived  them  as  to  its  object,  and  two  of  their  officers 
rode  forth  towards  him.  Seeing  this,  he  remounted,  and 
rode  leisurely  along  the  whole  extent  of  their  front,  carefully 
noting  the  force  and  position  of  the  several  arms.  Having 
performed  this  singular  and  hazardous  exploit, — the  admiration 
of  both  opposing  armies, — he  rode  back  to  his  commander, 
and  reported  accurately  the  numbers  and  dispositions  of  the 
enemy.  Six  thousand  men,  many  of  them  the  veterans  of  other 
fields,  stood  there  to  resist  the  progress  of  two  thousand,  who 
11 


122         ARISTA'S  ORDER  OF  BATTLE. 

were  to  witness  for  the  first  time  the  clash  of  hostile  arms. 
But  when  the  signal  odds  were  known  to  the  American  chief, 
he  paused  not,  blenched  not.  Firm  in  his  resolution,  con 
scious  of  his  resources,  confident  of  his  followers,  the  great 
array  of  the  foe  served  but  to  nerve  his  will,  and  exalt  his  hope. 
The  flags  of  his  troops  were  the  same  stripes  and  stars  which 
had  waved  in  triumph  where  he  had  fought  before  ;  and,  as  he 
glanced  along  the  ranks,  over  which  they  were  borne,  he  felt 
that  his  progress  was  still  to  victory. 

The  Mexican  general  had  chosen  a  vast  and  open  field  to 
give  the  Americans  battle.  His  right  wing  rested  upon  a 
gentle  eminence  covered  with  the  low  timber  and  under-growth 
of  the  sea-coast  prairie  ;  and  his  left  extended  to  an  impassable 
salt-marsh.  A  thousand  horse,  at  each  extreme,  menaced,  in 
due  time,  the  American  flanks  with  an  overwhelming  charge. 
Twelve  pieces  of  cannon,  supported  by  four  thousand  infantry, 
were  placed  at  intervals  to  command  their  entire  front.  Thus 
the  opposing  multitudes  approached,  until  the  arms  and  banners 
of  each  were  fully  discerned  by  the  other.  Over  the  Mexican 
host  arose  the  gorgeous  standards  which  marked  their  various 
corps,  —  and,  among  them,  most  honourable,  that  of  the  old 
and  valiant  Battalion  of  Tampico.  —  Above  all,  gleamed  the 
tall  steel,  and  quivered  the  gay  pennons,  of  the  renowned 
Lancers.  It  was  a  mild  day  in  mid-spring,  not  a  cloud  to 
curtain  the  sun,  still  far  above  the  horizon  ;  and  then 

«—  it  was  a  glorious  sight  to  see, 

For  one  who  had  no  friend,  no  brother  there, 
Their  rival  scarfs,  of  mixed  embroider}', 
And  various  arms  that  glittered  in  the  air." 

Silently,  the  little  army  of  the  Americans  kept  on  their  way. 
The  thick,  rank  grass  forbade  an  echo  of  their  steady  tramp  ; 
and  the  only  sound,  while  »  the  bravest  held  his  breath  for  a 
time,"  was  the  rattle  of  the  artillery  -  harness,  and  the  ring  of 
the  troopers'  scabbards. 

«  Firm  paced  and  slow,  a  fearless  front  they  form, 
Still  as  the  breeze,  but  dreadful  as  the  storm." 

Only  seven  hundred  yards  now  separated  the  two  armies, 


. 

DEADLY    FIRE    OF    ARTILLERY.  123 

•    **  A 

when  from  the  Mexican  right  the  artillery,  with  ball  and  grape, 
thundered  a  challenge  to  the  conflict.  Promptly  was  it  ac 
cepted.  Taylor  halted  his  columns,  and  gave  the  order  to  de 
ploy  into  line,  which  was  obeyed  with  the  steadiness  and  pre 
cision  of  their  ordinary  drill.  The  light  batteries  on  the  flanks, 
and  in  the  centre  the  eighteen-pounders,  were  advanced  about 
a  hundred  yards,  the  General  in  person  directing  the  position 
of  the  latter.  Before  this  movement,  he  had  ridden  along  each 
brigade,  and  encouraged  the  men  to  be  cool  and  deliberate. 
For  some  minutes  there  was  silence  through  the  line,  when  the 
order  passed  to  answer  the  enemy's  fire.  The  prompt  roar  of 
Duncan's  guns  on  the  left,  echoed  by  Ringgold's  on  the  right, 
fulfilled  the  command,  carrying  fearful  messengers  across  the 
plain.  On  both  sides,  the  deep  tones  of  the  ordnance  alone 
was  heard.  Before  Ringgold's  rapid  discharges,  the  fine 
cavalry  on  the  Mexican  left  faltered,  and  fell  back  to  escape 
their  resistless  effect.  From  the  centre,  Churchill  then  directed 
the  more  terrible  eighteen-pounders,  while  Duncan,  pressing 
nearer  to  the  enemy's  right,  made  it  share  the  ruin  of  the  other 
extreme.  The  cannon  on  both  sides,  the  only  arm  employed, 
continued  thus  for  nearly  an  hour  to  maintain  the  fight.  The 
Fifth  Regiment  of  Infantry  was  then  detached,  and  advanced 
to  the  right  and  front,  nearly  half  a  mile,  with  orders  to  turn 
the  left  flank  of  the  Mexicans,  who  had  gradually  receded  be 
fore  the  artillery,  which,  at  every  discharge,  opened  hideous 
breaches  in  the  living  wall  of  their  lines. 

Arista  witnessed  with  painful  surprise  the  frequent  service  and 
the  deadly  precision  of  the  American  guns,  while  his  own,  less 
rapid,  often  failed  in  their  aim.  Bravery  and  firmness  were  not 
wanting  in  his  ranks,  but  he  soon  perceived  that  in  a  contest 
of  artillery  only,  his  force  must  speedily  melt  away  before  the 
inevitable  fire  directed  against  it.  He  therefore  ordered  a 
charge  by  the  cavalry  on  his  left,  commanded  by  General  Tor- 
rejon,  while  he  led  that  on  the  right,  with  his  infantry,  against 
that  portion  of  the  American  line  respectively  opposed  to  them. 
Torrejon  came  ;  and  not  less  than  a  thousand  horse,  supported 
by  two  field-pieces,  dashed  with  him  upon  our  right.  The 


124  THE    PRAIRIE    ON    FIRE. 

Fifth  and  Third  Regiments  were  ordered  to  receive  him ;  and 
as  the  splendid  red  lancers  bore  rapidly  up,  discharging  their 
escopettes,  the  Fifth,  thrown  into  cavalry  square,  returned  the 
salute  from  one  of  its  sides  with  a  volley,  which  carried  con 
fusion  into  their  foremost  ranks.  But  recovering  from  the 
check,  they  still  pressed  gallantly  towards  our  rear.  The  Third 
Infantry,  promptly  detached  to  the  extreme  right,  covering  the 
train,  prepared  to  repel  them ;  while  Lieutenant  Ridgely,  with 
a  section  of  Ringgold's  battery,  rushed  to  the  left  of  the  Fifth, 
and  wheeling  his  flying  pieces  into  position,  before  Torrejon's 
tardy  guns  were  unlimbered,  poured  a  ruinous  fire  into  their 
columns,  which  they  vainly  struggled  to  resist.  Precipitately 
they  turned  and  fled,  their  retreating  squadrons  lessened  at 
every  step  by  the  iron  storm  which  pursued  them. 

While  this  encounter  proceeded  on  one  wing,  Ringgold,  to 
the  right  of  the  eighteen-pounders,  occupying  the  road,  con 
tinued  with  them  to  sweep  the  enemy's  left.  Thus  engaged, 
a  ball  from  one  of  their  guns  struck  that  daring  officer  and  his 
horse,  and,  fatally  mangled,  both  were  dashed  to  the  ground. 
Friends  sprang  to  his  aid,  but  forgetful  of  self,  he  bade  them 
do  their  duty  in  the  battle,  and  leave  him  to  his  fate.  He  was 
borne  from  the  field,  and  Lieutenant  Shover  succeeded  him  in 
command,  worthily  sustaining  the  action  till  its  close. 

Meanwhile  Duncan  advanced  on  the  left,  and  supported  by 
the  Eighth  Infantry,  efficiently  maintained  the  conflict  of  that 
extreme  for  two  hours,  the  whole  wing  exposed  during  that 
time  to  a  galling  fire  from  the  opposing  artillery.  The  long 
grass  of  the  prairie,  parched  by  the  constant  blaze  of  the  guns 
on  either  side,  was  suddenly  lighted  into  flame  by  a  discharge 
from  one  of  Duncan's  pieces.  The  smoke,  rolling  in  heavy 
masses,  concealed  each  army  from  the  other,  and  for  a  time  the 
battle  paused.  As  the  sea-breeze  blew  parallel  to  their  fronts, 
it  for  a  moment  cleared  the  smoke  on  our  left,  and  disclosed 
to  the  enemy  that  wing  with  its  field-pieces,  advancing  to  the 
right  of  its  first  position.  The  occasion  was  not  lost  to  the 
quick  eye  of  Duncan,  who  perceived  the  whole  cavalry  and 
infantry  force  of  the  Mexican  right,  two  thousand  men,  moving 


DISCOMFITURE    OF    THE    MEXICANS.    125 

upon  our  train.  Again  the  smoke  of  the  burning  prairie 
screened  from  each  the  adverse  lines.  But  Duncan,  under 
orders  of  Col.  Belknap,  wheeled  his  horses,  and  rushing  in  the 
direction  of  the  enemy's  lancers,  halted  within  musket  range, 
and  as  the  air  suddenly  cleared  again,  he  was  in  a  position  to 
receive  them.  So  rapid  was  the  movement,  that  they  who,  but 
an  instant  before,  had  seen  the  battery  flying  in  another  direc 
tion,  halted  in  astonishment.  One  section  of  it  poured  a  vol 
ley  of  shot  and  shells  in  their  ranks,  while  another  was  directed 
against  the  regiments  of  foot,  just  then  appearing  from  the 
chapparal,  supported  by  two  other  squadrons  of  horse.  The 
latter  bodies,  infantry  and  cavalry,  retired  to  the  chapparal, 
while  the  former  stood  firm  before  a  fire  which  cut  deep  gaps 
in  their  solid  masses.  Again  their  fellows,  having  re-formed, 
debouched  from  the  wood,  and  advanced  steadily  and  valiantly 
in  the  teeth  of  the  engines  whose  deadly  aim  had  just  driven 
them  back.  But  the  storm  was  resistless,  and  the  infantry 
broke  in  confusion.  Their  supporting  cavalry  bore  up  but  a 
moment  longer,  and  then  turned  also.  The  whole  body  now 
fled,  and  in  their  retreating  corps,  the  flying  artillery  kept  up 
the  havoc  which  it  had  begun. 

Before  and  during  these  movements  on  the  left  of  our  line, 
a  change  in  the  relative  position  of  both  armies  had  been 
effected.  The  enemy,  pressed  by  our  right,  had  formed  his 
front  nearly  at  right  angles  to  its  original  line.  Evening  was 
approaching,  when  Captain  May  was  ordered  by  General  Tay 
lor  to  drive  the  enemy's  cavalry  on  his  left  flank.  In  the  move 
ment  to  execute  this  order,  which  he  was  eager  to  attempt  in 
the  face  of  fearful  odds,  he  passed  the  General  and  his  staff, 
and  at  the  same  moment  received  a  direct  volley  from  the 
enemy's  batteries,  which,  wounding  five  men  and  killing  six 
horses,  deprived  him  at  one  blow  of  a  twentieth  of  his  troop. 
He  gained,  however,  a  position  on  the  right,  and  there  per 
ceiving  the  impossibility  of  charging  successfully  a  force  ten 
times  his  own,  returned  to  his  first  position. 

The  action  on  our  right,  interrupted  for  an  hour  by  the 
burning  grass,  was  renewed,  the  enemy  constantly,  though 
11* 


126         NIGHT    UPON    THE    BATTLE-FIELD. 

steadily,  falling  back.  A  demonstration  by  his  cavalry  was 
made  on  the  eighteen-pounders,  at  a  moment  when  they  were 
supported  only  by  Ker's  dragoons  and  the  artillery  battalion. 
But  the  latter,  forming  into  square,  repelled  the  charge,  which 
was  the  last  desperate  effort  to  capture  the  pieces,  that  bore 
destruction  to  all  before  them.  The  shades  of  night  only  ar 
rested  the  .fatal  work  which  the  day  permitted.  The  Mexican 
army,  diminished  by  hundreds  of  wounded  and  dead,  retreated 
behind  the  chapparal,  while  the  Americans  bivouacked  upon 
the  field  so  hardly  and  valiantly  won. 

The  field  had  been  won,  but  the  enemy  was  not  conquered. 
Night,  as  it  closed  the  bloody  labours  of  the  day,  brought  time 
for  thought  upon  the  morrow.  It  brought,  too,  rumours  of 
numerous  and  fresh  troops,  reinforcing  the  Mexican  army, 
which,  it  was  apprehended,  would  recede  to  a  new  and  better 
position,  resolved  still  to  oppose  the  advance  of  the  small  and 
jaded  body  of  the  Americans.  Notwithstanding  the  success 
of  the  first  encounter,  it  was  therefore  thought  expedient  to 
hold  a  consultation  of  officers  on  the  policy  of  proceeding 
against  a  foe,  far  superior  in  numbers,  and  proved  to  possess 
both  courage  and  endurance.  The  result  of  the  council  was 
a  unanimous  decision  to  move  forward  on  the  following  morn 
ing.  That  this  had  been  Taylor's  constant  determination  need 
hardly  be  added.  He  feared  not  defeat  before  a  blow  had  been 
struck.  Now  he  regarded  a  future  triumph  as  the  certain 
sequel  of  a  conflict. 

While  the  mass  of  the  wearied  troops  slept  beside  their  arms, 
with  only  the  earth  for  their  bed  and  the  sky  (or  its  canopy, 
parties  of  them  were  following  up  the  toil  of  the  day  by  seeking 
the  wounded  left  upon  the  field,  and  ministering  to  their  com 
fort.  Scores  of  their  unfortunate  adversaries  shared  these  hu 
mane  offices.  Their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  as  afterwards 
reported,  was  six  hundred.  The  loss  on  our  side  was  nine 
killed  and  forty-four  wounded.  Among  the  latter  was  Captain 
Page,  an  officer  of  great  merit,  who  soon  afterwards  died.  The 
fate  of  the  gallant  Ringgold  has  already  been  mentioned.  If 
others  were  more  fortunate,  they  were  equally  exposed  to 


ACCOUNT    OF    THE   BATTLE.   127 

danger.  General  Taylor  himself  was  often  where  the  fire  of 
the  enemy  was  hottest,  and  set  the  example  to  his  men  of 
braving  the  death  which  constantly  menaced  their  ranks.  Of 
this  glorious  action  of  Palo  Alto,  the  following  is  the  brief  and 
unpretending  account  which  he  prepared  before  the  morning 
of  the  9th : 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Camp  at  Palo  Alto,  Texas,  May  9,  1846. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honour  to  report  that  I  was  met  near  this 
place  yesterday,  on  my  march  from  Point  Isabel,  by  the  Mexi 
can  forces,  and  after  an  action  of  about  five  hours,  dislodged 
them  from  their  position  and  encamped  upon  the  field.  Our 
artillery,  consisting  of  two  eighteen-pounders  and  two  light 
batteries,  was  the  arm  chiefly  engaged,  and  to  the  excellent 
manner  in  which  it  was  mano3uvred  and  served  is  our  success 
mainly  due. 

The  strength  of  the  enemy  is  believed  to  have  been  about 
6000  men,  with  seven  pieces  of  artillery,  and  800  cavalry. 
His  loss  is  probably  at  least  one  hundred  killed.  Our  strength 
did  not  exceed,  all  told,  twenty-three  hundred,  while  our  loss 
was  comparatively  trifling — four  men  killed,  three  officers  and 
thirty-seven  men  wounded,  several  of  the  latter  mortally.  I 
regret  to  say  that  Major  Ringgold,  2d  artillery,  and  Captain 
Page,  4th  infantry,  are  severely  wounded.  Lieutenant  Luther, 
2d  artillery,  slightly  so. 

The  enemy  has  fallen  back,  and  it  is  believed  has  re-passed 
the  river.  I  have  advanced  parties  now  thrown  forward  in  his 
direction,  and  shall  move  the  main  body  immediately. 

In  the  haste  of  this  report,  I  can  only  say  that  the  officers 
and  men  behaved  in  the  most  admirable  manner  throughout 
the  action.  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  making  a  more  de 
tailed  report  when  those  of  the  different  commanders  shall  be 
received. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 


128  LINE    OF    BATTLE. 

A  few  days  afterwards,  the  annexed  despatch  was  prepared. 
Its  details  are  essential  as  a  matter  of  justice  to  the  officers 
and  men,  who  merited  all  the  encomiums  of  their  worthy  com 
mander.  The  document  is  dated,  Head  Quarters,  Camp  near 
Matamoras,  May  16, 1846,  and,  after  an  introductory  sentence, 
proceeds  as  follows : 

"  The  main  body  of  the  Army  of  Occupation  marched  under 
my  immediate  orders  from  Point  Isabel  on  the  evening  of  the 
7th  of  May,  and  bivouacked  seven  miles  from  that  place. 

"  Our  march  was  resumed  the  following  morning.  About 
noon,  when  our  advance  of  cavalry  had  reached  the  water-hole 
of  c  Palo  Alto,'  the  Mexican  troops  were  reported  in  our  front, 
and  were  soon  discovered  occupying  the  road  in  force.  I 
ordered  a  halt  upon  reaching  the  water,  with  a  view  to  rest  and 
refresh  the  men,  and  to  form  deliberately  our  line  of  battle. 
The  Mexican  line  was  now  plainly  visible  across  the  prairie, 
and  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  distant.  Their  left,  which 
was  composed  of  a  heavy  force  of  cavalry,  occupied  the  road, 
resting  upon  a  thicket  of  chapparal,  while  masses  of  infantry 
were  discovered  in  succession  on  the  right,  greatly  outnumber 
ing  our  own  force. 

«  Our  line  of  battle  was  now  formed  in  the  following  order, 
commencing  on  the  extreme  right : — 5th  Infantry,  commanded 
by  Lieutenant  Colonel  M'Intosh ;  Maj  or  Ringgold's  Artillery;  3d 
Infantry,  commanded  by  Captain  L.  N.  Morris  ;  two  eighteen- 
pounders,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Churchill ;  3d  Artillery ; 
4th  Infantry,  commanded  by  Major  G.  W.  Allen  ;  the  3d  and  4th 
regiments  composed  the  Third  Brigade,  under  command  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Garland  ;  and  all  the  above  corps,  together 
with  two  squadrons  of  Dragoons,  under  Captains  Ker  and 
May,  composed  the  right  wing,  under  the  orders  of  Colonel 
Twiggs.  The  left  was  formed  by  the  Battalion  of  Artillery, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Childs,  Captain  Duncan's 
Light  Artillery,  and  the  Eighth  Infantry,  under  Captain  Mont 
gomery — all  forming  the  First  Brigade,  under  command  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Belknap.  The  train  was  parked  near  the 


MENTION    OF    LIEUT.    BLAKE.  129 

water,  under  direction  of  Captains  Grossman  and  Myers,  and 
protected  by  Captain  Ker's  squadron. 

"  About  2  o'clock,  we  took  up  the  march,  by  heads  of 
columns,  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy — the  eighteen-pounder 
battery  following  the  road.  While  the  columns  were  advancing, 
Lieutenant  Blake,  topographical  engineer,  volunteered  a  re- 
connoissance  of  the  enemy's  line,  which  was  handsomely  per 
formed,  and  resulted  in  the  discovery  of  at  least  two  batteries 
of  artillery  in  the  intervals  of  their  cavalry  and  infantry.  These 
batteries  were  soon  opened  upon  us,  when  I  ordered  the 
columns  halted  and  deployed  into  line,  and  the  fire  to  be  re 
turned  by  all  our  artillery.  The  Eighth  Infantry,  on  our  extreme 
left,  was  thrown  back  to  secure  that  flank.  The  first  fires  of 
the  enemy  did  little  execution,  while  our  eighteen-pounders 
and  Major  Ringgold's  Artillery  soon  dispersed  the  cavalry 
which  formed  his  left.  Captain  Duncan's  battery,  thrown  for 
ward  in  advance  of  the  line,  was  doing  good  execution  at  this 
time.  Captain  May's  squadron  was  now  detached  to  support 
that  battery,  and  the  left  of  our  position.  The  Mexican  cavalry, 
with  two  pieces  of  artillery,  were  now  reported  to  be  moving 
through  the  chapparal  to  our  right  to  threaten  that  flank,  or 
make  a  demonstration  against  the  train.  The  Fifth  Infantry  was 
immediately  detached  to  check  this  movement,  and,  supported 
by  Lieutenant  Ridgely,  with  a  section  of  Major  Ringgold's 
battery,  and  Captain  Walker's  company  of  volunteers,  effectu 
ally  repulsed  the  enemy — the  Fifth  Infantry  repelling  a  charge 
of  lancers,  and  the  artillery  doing  great  execution  in  their 
ranks.  The  Third  Infantry  was  now  detached  to  the  right  as 
a  still  further  security  to  that  flank,  yet  threatened  by  the  en 
emy.  MajorRinggold,  with  the  remaining  section,  kept  up  his 
fire  from  an  advanced  position,  and  was  supported  by  the 
Fourth  Infantry. 

"  The  grass  of  the  prairie  had  been  accidentally  fired  by  our 
artillery,  and  the  volumes  of  smoke  now  partially  concealed  the 
armies  from  each  other.  As  the  enemy's  left  had  evidently 
been  driven  back,  and  left  the  road  free,  the  cannonade  having 
been  suspended,  I  ordered  forward  the  eighteen-pounders  on  the 


130      PAGE  — RING  GOLD— LUTHER. 

road  nearly  to  the  position  first  occupied  by  the  Mexican  cavalry, 
and  caused  the  First  brigade  to  take  up  a  new  position  still  on 
the  left  of  the  eighteen-pounder  battery.  The  Fifth  was  ad 
vanced  from  its  former  position  and  occupied  a  point  on  the 
extreme  right  of  the  new  line.  The  enemy  made  a  change  of 
position  corresponding  to  our  own,  and  after  a  suspension  of 
nearly  an  hour  the  action  was  resumed. 

"  The  fire  of  artillery  was  now  most  destructive — openings 
were  constantly  made  through  the  enemy's  ranks  by  our  fire, 
and  the  constancy  with  which  the  Mexican  infantry  sustained 
this  severe  cannonade  was  a  theme  of  universal  remark  and 
admiration.  Captain  May's  squadron  was  detached  to  make  a 
demonstration  on  the  left  of  the  enemy's  position,  and  suffered 
severely  from  the  fire  of  artillery  to  which  it  was  for  some  time 
exposed. 

"  The  Fourth  Infantry,  which  had  been  ordered  to  support 
the  eighteen-pounder  battery,  was  exposed  to  a  most  galling  fire 
of  artillery,  by  which  several  men  were  killed,  and  Captain 
Page  dangerously  wounded.  The  enemy's  fire  was  directed 
against  our  eighteen-pounder  battery,  and  the  guns  under 
Major  Ringgold  in  its  vicinity.  The  Major  himself,  while 
coolly  directing  the  fire  of  his  pieces,  was  struck  by  a  cannon 
ball  and  mortally  wounded. 

I-  "  In  the  mean  time,  the  Battalion  of  Artillery,  under  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  Childs,  had  been  brought  up  to  support  the 
artillery  on  our  right.  A  strong  demonstration  of  cavalry  was 
now  made  by  the  enemy  against  this  part  of  our  line,  and  the 
column  continued  to  advance  under  a  severe  fire  from  the 
eighteen-pounders.  The  battalion  was  instantly  formed  in 
square,  and  held  ready  to  receive  the  charge  of  cavalry,  but 
when  the  advancing  squadrons  were  within  close  range,  a 
deadly  fire  of  canister  from  the  eighteen-pounders  dispersed 
them.  A  brisk  fire  of  small-arms  was  now  opened  upon  the 
square,  by  which  one  officer,  Lieutenant  Luther,  2d  artillery, 
was  slightly  wounded,  but  a  well  directed  volley  from  the  front 
of  the  square  silenced  all  further  firing  from  the  enemy  in  this 
quarter.  It  was  now  nearly  dark,  and  the  action  was  closed 


LOSS  AND  COMPARATIVE  FORCE.     131 

on  the  right  of  our  line,  the  enemy  having  been  completely 
driven  back  from  his  position,  and  foiled  in  every  attempt  against 
our  line. 

"  While  the  above  was  going  forward  on  our  right,  and 
under  my  own  eye,  the  enemy  had  made  a  serious  attempt 
against  the  left  of  our  line.  Captain  Duncan  instantly  per 
ceived  the  movement,  and  by  the  bold  and  brilliant  manoeuvre- 
ing  of  his  battery,  completely  repulsed  several  successive 
efforts  of  the  enemy  to  advance  in  force  upon  our  left  flank. 
Supported  in  succession  by  the  8th  Infantry  and  Captain 
Ker's  squadron  of  Dragoons,  he  gallantly  held  the  enemy  at 
bay,  and  finally  drove  him,  with  immense  loss,  from  the  field. 
The  action  here  and  along  the  whole  line,  continued  until 
dark,  when  the  enemy  retired  into  the  chapparal  in  rear  of 
his  position.  Our  army  bivouacked  on  the  ground  it  occu 
pied.  During  the  afternoon  the  train  had  been  moved  forward 
about  half  a  mile,  and  was  parked  in  rear  of  the  new  posi 
tion. 

"  Our  loss  this  day  was  nine  killed,  forty-four  wounded,  and 
two  missing.  Among  the  wounded  were  Major  Ringgold, 
who  has  since  died,  and  Captain  Page  dangerously  wounded. 
Lieutenant  Luther  slightly  so. 

"  Our  own  force  is  shown  by  the  field  report  to  have  been  177 
officers  and  2111  men — aggregate  2288.  The  Mexican  force, 
according  to  the  statements  of  their  own  officers,  was  not  less 
than  6000  regular  troops,  with  ten  pieces  of  artillery,  and  pro 
bably  exceeded  that  number ;  the  irregular  force  not  known. 
Their  loss  was  not  less  than  200  killed  and  400  wounded ; 
probably  greater.  This  estimate  is  very  moderate,  and  formed 
upon  the  number  actually  counted  upon  the  field  and  upon  the 
reports  of  their  own  officers. 

"  As  already  reported  in  my  first  brief  despatch,  the  conduct 
of  our  officers  and  men  was  every  thing  that  could  be  desired. 
Exposed  for  hours  to  the  severest  trial,  cannonade  of  artillery, 
our  troops  displayed  a  coolness  and  constancy,  which  gave  me 
throughout  the  assurance  of  victory." 

With   this  unvarnished  tale  it  is  interesting  to  compare 


«  -        *- * 
132  ARISTA'S  DESPATCH. 

the  ingenious  account  given  by  General  Arista  of  the  same  oc 
currences.  If  it  appears  uncandid  in  any  particular,  or  in  its 
spirit,  the  embarrassing  position  of  the  writer  must  be  his 
apology.  It  is  addressed  to  the  Mexican  Minister  of  War  and 
Marine. 

"  Constant  in  my  purpose  of  preventing  General  Taylor  from 
uniting  the  forces  which  he  brought  from  the  Fronton  of  Sante 
Isabel,  with  those  which  he  left  opposite  Matamoros,  I  moved 
this  day  from  the  Fanques  del  Raminero,  whence  I  despatched 
my  last  extraordinary  courier,  and  took  the  direction  of  Palo 
Alto,  as  soon  as  my  spies  informed  me  that  the  enemy  had  left 
Fronton,  with  the  determination  of  introducing  into  his  fort 
wagons  loaded  with  provisions  and  heavy  artillery. 

"  I  arrived  opposite  Palo  Alto  about  one  o'clock,  and  ob 
served  that  the  enemy  was  entering  that  position. 

"  With  all  my  forces,  I  established  the  line  of  battle  in  a 
great  plain,  my  right  resting  upon  an  elevation,  and  my  left  on 
a  slough  of  difficult  passage. 

"  Scarcely  was  the  first  cannon  fired,  when  there  arrived 
General  D.  Pedro  de  Ampudia,  second  in  command,  whom  I 
had  ordered  to  join  me  after  having  covered  the  points  which 
might  serve  to  besiege  the  enemy  in  the  forts  opposite  Mata 
moros. 

"  The  forces  under  my  orders  amounted  to  three  thousand 
men,  and  twelve  pieces  of  artillery;  those  of  the  invaders 
were  three  thousand,  rather  less  than  more,  and  were  superior 
in  artillery,  since  they  had  twenty  pieces  of  the  calibre  of  six 
teen  and  eighteen  pounds. 

"  The  battle  commenced  so  ardently,  that  the  fire  of  cannon 
did  not  cease  a  single  moment.  In  the  course  of  it,  the  enemy 
wished  to  follow  the  road  to  Matamoros,  to  raise  the  siege  of 
his  troops ;  with  which  object  he  fired  the  grass,  and  formed  in 
front  of  his  line  of  battle  a  smoke  so  thick,  that  he  succeeded 
in  covering  himself  from  our  view,  but  by  means  of  manoeuvres 
this  was  twice  embarrassed. 

«  General  Taylor  maintained  his  attack  rather  defensively 
than  offensively,  employing  his  best  arm,  which  is  artillery, 


ARISTA'S  MISSTATEMENTS.  133 

protected  by  half  of  the  infantry,  and  all  of  his  cavalry,  keeping 
the  remainder  fortified  in  the  ravine,  about  two  thousand  yards 
from  the  field  of  battle. 

"  I  was  anxious  for  the  charge,  because  the  fire  of  cannon 
did  much  damage  in  our  ranks,  and  I  instructed  General  D. 
Anastasio  Torrejon  to  execute  it  with  the  greater  part  of  the 
cavalry,  by  our  left  flank,  with  some  columns  of  infantry,  and 
the  remainder  of  the  cavalry. 

"  I  was  waiting  the  moment  when  that  general  should  exe 
cute  the  charge,  and  the  effect  of  it  should  begin  to  be  seen, 
in  order  to  give  the  impulse  on  the  right ;  but  he  was  checked 
by  a  fire  of  the  enemy,  which  defended  a  slough  that  embar 
rassed  the  attack. 

"  Some  battalions,  becoming  impatient  by  the  loss  which 
they  suffered,  fell  into  disorder,  demanding  to  advance  or  fall 
back.  I  immediately  caused  them  to  charge  with  a  column 
of  cavalry,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  D.  Cayetano  Mon- 
tero  ;  the  result  of  this  operation  being  that  the  dispersed  corps 
repaired  their  fault  as  far  as  possible,  marching  towards  the 
enemy,  who,  in  consequence  of  his  distance,  was  enabled  to 
fall  back  upon  his  reserve,  and  night  coming  on,  the  battle  was 
concluded,  the  field  remaining  for  our  arms. 

"Every  suitable  measure  was  then  adopted,  and  the  division 
took  up  a  more  concentrated  curve  in  the  same  scene  of  action. 

"  The  combat  was  long  and  bloody,  which  may  be  estimated 
from  the  calculations  made  by  the  commandant  general  of  artil 
lery,  General  D.  Thomas  Requena,  who  assures  me  that  the 
enemy  threw  about  three  thousand  cannon-shots  from  two  in 
the  afternoon,  when  the  battle  commenced,  until  seven  at  night, 
when  it  terminated, — six  hundred  and  fifty  being  fired  on  our 
side. 

"  The  national  arms  shone  forth,  since  they  did  not  yield  a 
hand's  breadth  of  ground,  notwithstanding  the  superiority  in 
artillery  of  the  enemy,  who  suffered  much  damage. 

"  Our  troops  have  to  lament  the  loss  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty-two  men  dispersed,  wounded,  and  killed, — the  last  worthy 
12 


134  REMARKS    ON    THE    BATTLE.   ^  ' 

of  national  recollection  and  gratitude  for  the  intrepidity  with 
which  they  died  fighting  for  the  most  sacred  of  causes. 

"Will  your  excellency  please  with  his  note  to  report  to  his 
excellency  the  President,  representing  to  him  that  I  will  take 
care  to  give  a  circumstantial  account  of  this  deed  of  arms ; 
and  recommending  to  him  the  good  conduct  of  all  the  generals, 
chiefs,  officers,  and  soldiers  under  my  orders,  for  sustaining  so 
bloody  a  combat,  which  does  honour  to  our  arms,  and  exhibits 
their  discipline." 

This  document  is  dated,  "In  sight  of  the  Enemy,  May  8th." 
Throughout  this  action,  memorable  alike  as  the  first  in  which 
the  armies  of  the  United  States  and  Mexico  were  in  open  field, 
and  as  the  beginning  of  a  series  of  extraordinary  victories,  the 
enemy  had  every  apparent  advantage  to  secure  the  day.  He 
had  selected  his  own  ground,  the  ground  to  which  his  cavalry 
was  accustomed,  and  on  which  there  was  no  natural  impedi 
ment  to  their  movements ;  and  that  body  alone  equalled  the 
whole  force  of  every  arm  which  he  determined  to  resist.  There 
was,  too,  active  daring,  and  passive  courage  in  his  ranks.  His 
common  soldiers  had  redeemed  even  the  pledges  of  his  boast 
ing  generals.  What  then  was  the  cause  of  his  failure  ?  One, 
certainly,  is  found  in  the  inferiority  of  his  artillery,  which  in  no 
respect  was  served  as  our  own.  But  this  one  cause  will  not 
explain  a  reverse  so  disastrous.  The  chief  reason  for  it  must 
be  sought  in  the  comparative  abilities  of  the  two  commanders, 
and  the  spirit  of  their  subordinates.  Before  the  battle,  Arista 
must  have  been  ignorant  of  the  power  of  our  light  artillery ; 
but  when  he  had  witnessed  it,  and  discovered  that  his  only 
hope  of  success  was  in  a  close  conflict  and  the  capture  of  the 
pieces,  he  should  have  charged  up  to  our  lines  at'  any  partial 
sacrifice.  It  is  true  that  he  thrice  attempted  this  at  different 
points,  and  with  his  overwhelming  numbers,  why  should  he 
have  failed  ?  The  want  of  impetuous,  self-abandoning,  indo 
mitable  bravery  in  his  officers  affords  the  only  explanation. 
Their  men  sustained  the  destructive  volleys  of  our  guns  with 
noble  firmness,  and  had  they  been  led  on  by  superiors  worthy 


MARCH  FROM  PALO  ALTO.        135 

of  them,  they  might  have  more  nearly  balanced  the  fortunes 
of  the  day,  even  if  they  had  failed  to  overpower  their  adver 
saries,  who  entered  the  field  reckless  of  any  opposing  force, 
and  resolved  to  maintain  it  at  any  cost. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Mexican  Army  retreating — Taylor's  March  resumed — Mexican  Bead  and 
Wounded — Skirmishes  with  the  Enemy — Mexican  Army  formed — Its  Posi 
tion — La  Resaca  de  la  Palma — The  Battle  commenced — The  Artillery — In 
fantry  engaged — Close  Quarters — The  Enemy's  Batteries — May  ordered  to 
charge  them — Ridgely's  Gallantry  —  May's  furious  Onset  —  Inge's  and 
Sackett's  Death — Batteries  captured — La  Vega  a  Prisoner — The  Fifth  In 
fantry's  charge — Personal  deeds — The  Enemy's  bravery — Officers  Wounded 
and  Killed — Arista's  Camp  taken — The  Tampico  Battalion — Rout  of  the 
Enemy — The  Booty — The  Loss — Taylor's  first  Despatch — His  detailed 
Account — Encomiums  on  his  Troops — Mistakes  of  Arista — Misery  of  routed 
Troops — Gen.  Taylor's  care  of  the  Wounded — His  return  to  Point  Isabel — 
Congratulates  his  Troops — Mexican  Commander's  Manifesto — Remarks  on 
causes  of  his  Defeat — Inferiority  of  Officers — Authority  cited — Self-devotion 
of  American  Officers — Examples — Anecdotes  of  Heroism — Ridgely — Page — 
Payne  —  Ringgold — Richey — Woods  and  Hays — Augur  and  Cochrane  — 
Barbour — May — Melton — Lincoln  and  Jordan — Belknap  and  Scott — Mcln- 
tosh — Letter  of  a  Witness. 

THE  sun  of  the  ninth  of  May  was  raising  the  curtain  of  mist, 
which  hung  across  the  field  of  Palo  Alto,  when  the  rear  guard 
of  the  Mexican  army  was  descried,  gradually  retiring  through 
the  distant  chapparal.  Although  defeated  in  the  contest  of  the 
previous  day,  its  numbers  were  still  formidable,  and  the  rumours 
of  the  night  increased  them  by  large  bodies  of  fresh  troops. 
Anticipating  another  struggle  before  he  should  reach  the  Rio 
Grande,  General  Taylor  made  the  requisite  preparations  for  it. 
To  place  the  train  beyond  the  reach  of  accident,  it  was  left  in 
its  position  strongly  parked,  and  entrenched,  with  four  pieces 
of  artillery  and  the  artillery  battalion  to  defend  it.  The 
wounded,  by  such  modes  of  carriage  as  circumstances  per 
mitted,  were  sent  back  to  Point  Isabel ;  and  then,  with  a  force 
diminished  by  the  train  guard,  and  by  the  losses  of  the  late 
battle,  the  resolute  commander  gave  the  order  for  the  advance. 


136  RECONNOITRING    AND    SKIRMISHING. 

As  the  ground,  which  had  been  occupied  by  the  Mexicans 
was  crossed,  the  dreadful  tokens  of  the  havoc  made  among 
them  by  the  American  artillery  were  exhibited  on  every  side. 
Not  only  were  the  rigid  and  insensible  bodies  of  the  dead 
there,  but  the  still  writhing  and  conscious  forms  of  the  living, 
variously  mutilated  and  mangled;  who,  forsaken  by  their 
friends,  had  passed  the  night  on  the  chill  earth,  damp  with 
their  own  blood,  with  no  kind  hand  to  stanch  its  flow,  to  bind 
up  their  wounds,  or  to  wet  their  parched  lips  with  a  drop  of 
water.  As  the  columns,  which,  fulfilling  the  day  before  the 
soldier's  mission,  had  caused  their  sufferings,  marched  by  them 
to  another  field  of  strife  and  anguish,  the  pained  and  panting 
wretches,  some  by  words  and  some  by  looks  alone,  would 
piteously  ask  for  drink  or  food,  or  succour  in  their  helplessness. 
What  their  enemies  could  give  was  freely  given  for  the  mo 
ment,  and  these  then  passed  on,  soon  to  forget  the  sad  chances 
of  one  battle  in  the  rage  of  another. 

I  The  march  was  continued  until  the  edge  of  the  chapparal 
was  reached,  which  belted  by  a  single  narrow  prairie  extends 
about  six  miles  to  the  bottom  lands  of  the  river.  General 
Taylor  had  thrown  forward  a  part  of  the  first  brigade  under 
Capt.  C.  F.  Smith,  the  second  artillery  and  a  few  light  com 
panies,  the  whole  commanded  by  Capt.  McCall,  to  ascertain 
the  enemy's  force  and  position.  It  was  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  when  report  was  brought  him  that  they  had  made  a 
stand  in  the  road,  which  was  defended  by  artillery.  An  hour 
later,  the  main  body  under  Taylor,  overtook  Capt.  McCall, 
who  reported  that  the  Mexicans  were  formed  in  force  in  front. 
His  command  had  skirmished  with  them  and  ascertained  their 
position.  Advancing  into  the  chapparal,  he  had  encountered 
small  parties,  which  were  fired  upon ;  and  then  proceeding  he 
had  reached  the  strip  of  open  land,  which  interrupts  the  broad 
reach  of  undergrowth.  Through  this  clear  space  a  ravine  ex 
tends,  which  the  road  crosses.  In  the  ravine  and  against  the 
chapparal  beyond  it,  the  Mexicans  were  posted.  They  had 
chosen  La  Resaca  de  la  Palma  to  make  their  second  stand 
against  American  arms.  Their  position  was  well  selected  for 


LA  RESACA  DE  LA  PALMA.        137 

defence.  The  ravine  is  about  four  feet  deep  and  from  one  to 
two  hundred  feet  wide.  Its  bed  in  rainy  seasons  forms  a  se 
ries  of  pools,  which  are  sometimes  swollen  so  as  to  unite  in 
one  continuous  line  of  water.  With  dry  weather  this  subsides, 
hence  the  name  "  Resaca  de  la  Palma"  The  Mexicans  stood 
entrenched  in  this  natural  ditch,  and  against  the  dense  thicket 
extending  on  its  farther  bank.  As  the  right  of  Capt.  McCall's 
detachment  debouched  from  the  wood  facing  them,  a  masked 
battery  opened  upon  it,  killing  one  man  and  wounding  two 
others.  Meanwhile,  Lieut.  Dobbins  on  the  left,  commanding 
a  small  party,  was  charged  by  a  body  of  Mexicans,  who  sud 
denly  emerged  from  the  ravine.  The  foremost  was  shot  by 
the  brave  lieutenant  himself,  and  his  men,  following  the  exam 
ple  of  his  fire,  caused  the  rest  to  retreat.  Immediately  the 
battery  opened  upon  him  and  he  fell  wounded,  but  recovering 
his  feet,  he  withdrew  his  party  into  the  chapparal.  At  this 
moment  a  troop  of  cavalry  rode  by,  and  Lieut.  Dobbins  order 
ing  a  fire  upon  them  they  also  rapidly  retreated. 

When  General  Taylor  can^e  up,  he  at  once  ordered  Ridge 
ly 's  battery  to  advance  upon  the  road,  supported  by  the  Third, 
Fourth  and  Fifth  Infantry,  and  McCall's  command  on  either 
side  of  it.  The  latter  immediately  engaged  the  enemy,  and 
was  seconded  by  the  light  artillery,  which  speedily  brought  on 
a  general  action.  As  on  the  previous  day,  the  execution  of  the 
artillery  was  terrible.  But  the  enemy  answered  it  with  spirit 
and  effect,  having  eight  pieces  posted  on  the  road.  During 
the  necessary  pauses  in  the  discharges  of  the  latter,  Ridgely 
contrived  to  push  forward  his  own,  until  they  wrere  only  one 
hundred  yards  from  those  of  the  enemy,  and  at  this  murderous 
proximity,  the  firing  was  maintained  with  grape  and  cannister. 
Admirably  did  Ridgely  and  his  men  labour  in  this  terrible  ser 
vice,  the  sinewy  arms  and  broad  chests  of  the  latter  bared  as 
for  some  peaceful  toil,  while  his  unerring  eye  gave  assurance 
that  not  a  charge  was  sped  in  vain. 

The  infantry,  at  the  same  time,  was  pressing  forward,  and 
the  sharp  rattle  of  musketry  on  both  sides  accompanied  the 
deep  din  of  the  ordnance.  As  each  volley  told  upon  the 
12* 


138     CHARGE  BY  MAY'S  DRAGOONS. 

ranks  of  the  enemy,  the  wild  shouts  of  our  eager  troops  rivalled 
the  clamour  of  their  arms.  Their  force  was  extended  and  di 
vided  by  the  compact  thickets  which  impeded  their  advance. 
The  Third  Regiment,  under  Captain  Morris,  and  the  Fourth, 
under  Major  Allen,  still  gaining  ground,  formed  in  the  ravine. 
Here  the  fight  was  often  hand  to  hand,  and  Mexico's  bravest 
veterans  resisted  with  every  arm  the  impetuous  onset  of  the 
Americans ;  but,  except  her  artillery,  no  force  could  arrest 
them.  That  continued  in  position,  and  was  used  with  severe 
efficiency.  One  piece  on  the  right  had  been  captured  ;  but  no 
successful  effort  had  been  made  towards  those  in  the  centre, 
which  covered  the  Mexican  infantry  in  several  desperate  at 
tempts  to  retake  the  captured  gun. 

General  Taylor  had  for  some  time  noted  the  strength  of  the 
enemy's  position  on  the  road,  and  the  constant  execution  of 
his  batteries  upon  our  exposed  lines.  He  called  Captain  May, 
who,  with  his  Dragoons,  had  awaited  orders  in  the  rear,  and 
told  him  to  charge  the  artillery  of  the  enemy,  and  take  it, 
"  nolens  volens."  "  I  will  do  it  !'•'  said  May  ;  and,  turning  to 
his  troop,  he  rose  in  his  stirrups,  pointed  to  the  guns  before 
him,  and  exclaiming,  "  Remember  your  regiment ! — Men, 
follow  !"  he  struck  his  charger,  and  bounded  on  before  them 
down  the  narrow  road.  A  deafening  cheer  answered  his  call, 
and  they  dashed  on  towards  the  cannons'  mouths.  For  a  mo 
ment,  their  career  was  checked  by  Ridgely's  battery  in  the  road. 
"  Stop,"  said  he,  to  the  headlong  leader,  "  till  I  draw  their 
fire" — and  with  the  word,  his  guns  poured  their  iron  torrent 
on  the  opposing  batteries.  It  was  met  by  a  discharge  from 
theirs,  at  the  same  moment,  and  while  the  smoke  still  rolled 
around  them,  May  darted  forward  again  to  the  charge.  The 
noble  horse  which  bore  him  outstripped  his  troop  ;  and,  as  he 
neared  the  enemy's  breastworks,  he  turned  to  wave  them  on 
when  only  the  impetuous  Inge  was  by  to  answer.  But  the 
squadron,  fast  as  their  straining  steeds  could  fly,  was  hastening 
on,  their  upraised  sabres  flashing  in  the  sun,  when  a  volley 
from  the  higher  battery  swept  fearfully  upon  their  column. 
Seven  men  and  eighteen  horses  were  crushed  beneath  it. 


ENEMY'S  BATTERIES  SILENCED.       139 

Among  them,  Inge  and  Sackett  perished.  But  the  rest  paused 
not.  At  a  bound,  May  cleared  the  battery.  The  horses  of  a 
few  others  were  equal  to  the  leap,  and  their  impetus  carried 
them  beyond  the  guns.  Wheeling  again,  they  drove  the  gun 
ners  off,  and  Captain  Graham,  and  Lieutenants  Pleasanton  and 
Winship,  with  others,  coming  up,  were  masters  of  the  battery. 
But  they  were  surrounded  by  enemies  determined  not  to  yield 
their  weapons  without  a  struggle.  The  guns  were  recovered ; 
and  the  little  band  of  dragoons  again  dispersed  those  wrho 
manned  them.  One  officer  alone  remained,  who  endeavoured 
to  rally  his  men,  and,  with  match  in  hand,  was  about  to  dis 
charge  a  piece,  when  May  dashed  up,  and  summoned  him  to 
yield.  "  General  La  Vega  is  a  prisoner,"  answered  the  brave 
Mexican,  and  gave  up  his  sword.  Exposed  to  a  shower  of 
musketry,  he  was  conducted  by  Lieutenant  Stevens  to  the  rear 
of  our  lines. 

The  batteries,  though  silenced,  could  not  be  held  by  the  few 
dragoons  who  had  taken  them.  The  Eighth  Infantry j  mean 
while,  had  been  fiercely  engaged  on  the  right  of  the  road,  and 
a  part  of  the  Fifth  on  the  left.  These  were  now  ordered  to 
charge  the  batteries,  and  in  turn,  though  resisted  inch  by  inch, 
they  took  them,  and  finally  drove  the  enemy  at  the  bayonet's 
point  from  them  and  from  his  position  on  the  left.  In  this  as 
sault  many  fell,  and  the  daring  Captain  Hooe,  leading  on  his 
company,  had  his  arm  shattered  by  a  grape,  wrhich  struck  him 
to  the  ground.  Col.  Belknap,  Lieut.  Col.  Payne,  Captain 
Montgomery,  and  Captain  Scott,  cheered  on  the  men  of  the 
Eighth  in  this  gallant  charge.  Lieut.  Col.  Mclntosh,  the  ve 
teran  hero  of  other  fields,  led  the  Fifth.  After  the  loss  of  their 
artillery,  the  Mexicans  still  fought  desperately,  and  all  along 
the  ravine  the  contest  was  sustained  by  them  with  stubborn 
bravery.  Captain  Morris,  with  Lieutenants  Woods  and  Hays, 
followed  by  a  score  of  men,  charged  through  a  pond  and  cap 
tured  a  field-piece,  which  was  sweeping  down  the  ranks  of  the 
Fourth.  The  chapparal  presented  even  greater  obstacles  to 
the  onward  course  of  our  troops  than  the  storm  of  the  enemy's 
cannon.  From  these  natural  walls  the  musketry  of  the  Mexi- 


140    '  ROUT    OF    THE    MEXICANS. 

cans  poured  a  deadly  fire.  In  a  charge  upon  them  Mclntosh 
fell,  pierced  in  the  throat  with  a  bayonet,  and  while  thus  pinned 
to  the  ground,  his  sword  cleft  his  antagonist.  Others  rushed 
upon  him,  and  thrust  their  bayonets  through  his  limbs.  Lieut. 
Jordan,  too,  was  wounded  in  one  of  the  reckless  assaults  made 
through  the  chapparal;  and  Lieut.  Cochrane  fell  resisting  a 
charge  of  cavalry,  pierced  with  seven  lance-wounds. 

While  these  close  encounters  with  the  enemy  were  in  pro 
gress,  the  artillery  had  ceased.  Duncan's  battery  had  been 
unemployed,  as  from  its  position  it  would  have  raked  our  lines  ; 
and  Ridgely's,  too,  was  silent,  as  friends  and  foes  were  clutched 
in  desperate  disorder  along  the  thickets,  and  in  the  open  spaces, 
to  which  the  latter  were  driven.  Worthily  they  strove  to  re 
cover  their  lost  position.  The  camp  and  head-quarters  of 
Arista  had  been  taken,  and  the  rout  of  the  Mexicans  became 
general.  A  solitary  banner  still  defied  the  onset  of  the  victors. 
It  was  that  of  the  Tampico  Battalion,  which  had  never  yielded 
on  any  other  field.  Against  fate  and  hope  they  fought  on, 
until  all  were  cut  down.  The  standard-bearer,  resolved  to  save 
his  honoured  charge,  tore  it  from  the  staff  and  fled.  But  .rid 
den  down  by  our  pursuing  dragoons,  he  was  made  prisoner, 
and  it  wras  seized,  the  noblest  trophy  of  the  field.  During 
the  struggle  of  the  enemy  to  beat  back  our  resistless  muskets, 
the  artillery  had  advanced,  and  when,  at  every  point,  the  Mexi 
cans  sought  safety  in  flight,  the  batteries  opened  upon  them 
with  terrible  effect.  The  artillery  battalion,  which,  during  the 
battle,  had  been  left  in  the  rear  to  guard  the  train,  was  now 
ordered  to  the  pursuit.  Ker's  dragoons  and  Duncan's  battery 
also  followed  the  fleeing  thousands,  completing  the  wrork  of 
their  defeat,  and  making  many  prisoners. 

In  this  daring  and  successful  engagement  General  Taylor  had 
only  seventeen  hundred  men.  The  enemy,  reinforced  on  the 
night  of  the  8th,  opposed  him  with  not  less  than  seven  thou 
sand  chosen  troops,  accustomed  to  war,  and  perfectly  prepared 
for  action,  with  a  splendid  body  of  cavalry  and  eight  pieces  of 
artillery.  So  total  was  the  rout  that  all  their  camp  contained 
was  captured.  The  plate  and  private  property,  correspondence 


GENERAL    TAYLOR'S    FIRST    REPORT.    141 

of  their  general-in-chief,  the  arras,  ammunition,  standards,  pro 
visions,  pack-saddles,  and  every  equipment  of  seven  thousand 
men  and  two  thousand  horses,  save  what  they  wore  in  their 
precipitous  flight,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors.  The 
triumph,  however,  was  not  bought  without  the  price  of  every 
battle-field.  In  our  ranks  one  hundred  and  ten  were  killed 
and  wounded,  and  ten  times  that  number  in  those  of  the 
enemy. 

On  the  same  day  the  subjoined  brief  despatch  was  prepared 
by  General  Taylor. 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation 
Camp  at  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  3  miles  from  Matamoros, 
10  o'clock  P.  M.,  May  9,  1846. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honour  to  report  that  I  marched  with  the 
main  body  of  the  army  at  two  o'clock  to-day,  having  previ 
ously  thrown  forward  a  body  of  light  infantry  into  the  forest 
which  covers  the  Matamoros  road.  When  near  the  spot  where 
I  am  now  encamped,  my  advance  discovered  that  a  ravine 
crossing  the  road  had  been  occupied  by  the  enemy  with  artil 
lery.  I  immediately  ordered  a  battery  of  field  artillery  to 
sweep  the  position,  flanking  and  sustaining  it  by  the  3d,  4th, 
and  5th  regiments,  deployed  as  skirmishers  to  the  right  and  left. 
A  heavy  fire  of  artillery  and  of  musketry  was  kept  up  for  some 
time,  until  finally  the  enemy's  batteries  were  carried  in  succes 
sion  by  a  squadron  of  dragoons  and  the  regiments  of  infantry 
that  were  on  the  ground.  He  was  soon  driven  from  his  posi 
tion,  and  pursued  by  a  squadron  of  dragoons,  battalion  of  ar 
tillery,  3d  infantry,  and  a  light  battery,  to  the  river.  Our  vic 
tory  has  been  complete.  Eight  pieces  of  artillery,  with  a  great 
quantity  of  ammunition,  three  standards,  and  some  one  hun 
dred  prisoners  have  been  taken  ;  among  the  latter,  General  La 
Vega,  and  several  other  officers.  One  general  is  understood  to 
have  been  killed.  The  enemy  has  recrossed  the  river,  and  I 
am  sure  will  not  again  molest  us  on  this  bank. 

The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed  has  been  most  severe.  Our 
own  has  been  very  heavy,  and  I  deeply  regret  to  report  that 
Lieutenant  Inge,  2d  dragoons,  Lieutenant  Cochrane,  4th  in- 


142  PRAISES    HIS    TROOPS. 

fantry,  and  Lieutenant  Chadbourne,  8th  infantry,  were  killed 
on  the  field.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Payne,  4th  artillery,  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  Mclntosh,  Lieutenant  Dobbins,  3d  infantry ; 
Captain  Hooe  and  Lieutenant  Fowler,  5th  infantry;  and  Cap 
tain  Montgomery,  Lieutenants  Gates,  Selden,  McClay,  Bur- 
bank,  and  Jordan,  8th  infantry,  were  wounded.  The  extent 
of  our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  is  not  yet  ascertained,  and 
is  reserved  for  a  more  detailed  report. 

[•••  The  affair  of  to-day  may  be  regarded  as  a  proper  supple 
ment  to  the  cannonade  of  yesterday ;  and  the  two  taken  to 
gether,  exhibit  the  coolness  and  gallantry  of  our  officers  and 
men  in  the  most  favourable  light.  All  have  done  their  duty, 
and  done  it  nobly.  It  will  be  my  pride,  in  a  more  circum 
stantial  report  of  both  actions,  to  dwell  upon  particular  in 
stances  of  individual  distinction. 

It  affords  me  peculiar  pleasure  to  report  that  the  field-work 
opposite  Matamoros  has  sustained  itself  handsomely  during  a 
cannonade  and  bombardment  of  160  hours.  But  the  pleasure 
is  alloyed  with  profound  regret  at  the  loss  of  its  heroic  and  in 
domitable  commander,  Major  Brown,  who  died  to-day  from 
the  effect  of  a  shell.  His  loss  would  be  a  severe  one  to  the 
service  at  any  time,  but  to  the  army  under  my  orders,  it  is  in 
deed  irreparable.  One  officer  and  one  non-commissioned  officer 
killed,  and  ten  men  wounded,  comprise  all  the  casualties  in 
cident  to  this  severe  bombardment. 

I  inadvertently  omitted  to  mention  the  capture  of  a  large 
number  of  pack-mules  left  in  the  Mexican  camp. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR. 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

A  few  days  afterwards  General  Taylor  wrote  a  more  detailed 
report  of  the  battle.  The  following  extracts  from  it  afford 
the  best  general  account  of  the  actions,  and  do  justice  to  the 
officers  and  men  engaged  in  it. 

"  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  9th  instant,  the  enemy,  who 
had  encamped  near  the  field  of  battle  of  the  day  previous,  was 


TAYLOR'S  DETAILED  REPORT.    143 

W 

discovered  moving  by  his  left  flank,  evidently  in  retreat ;  and 

perhaps  at  the  same  time  to  gain  a  new  position  on  the  road  to 
Matamoros,  and  there  again  resist  our  advance. 

"  I  ordered  the  supply  train  to  be  strongly  parked  at  its  po 
sition,  and  left  with  it  four  pieces  of  artillery — the  two  eighteen- 
pounders  which  had  done  such  good  service  on  the  previous 
day — and  two  twelve-pounders  which  had  not  been  in  the 
action.  The  wounded  officers  and  men  were  at  the  same  time 
sent  back  to  Point  Isabel.  I  then  moved  forward  with  the 
columns  to  the  edge  of  the  chapparal  or  forest,  which  extends 
to  the  Rio  Grande,  a  distance  of  seven  miles.  The  light  com 
panies  of  the  first  brigade,  under  Captain  C.  F.  Smith,  2d  ar 
tillery,  and  a  select  detachment  of  light  troops,  the  whole  under 
the  command  of  Captain  McCall,  4th  infantry,  were  thrown 
forward  into  the  chapparal,  to  feel  the  enemy,  and  ascertain  his 
position.  About  three  o'clock,  I  received  a  report  from  the 
advance,  that  the  enemy  was  in  position  on  the  road,  with  at 
least  two  pieces  of  artillery.  The  command  was  immediately 
put  in  motion,  and  at  about  four  o'clock  I  came  up  with  Cap 
tain  McCall,  who  .reported  the  enemy  in  force  in  our  front, 
occupying  a  ravine  which  intersects  the  road  and  is  skirted  by 
thickets  of  dense  chapparal.  Ridgely's  battery  and  the  ad 
vance  under  Captain  McCall  were  at  once  thrown  forward  on 
the  road,  and  into  the  chapparal  on  either  side,  while  the  5th 
infantry  and  one  wing  of  the  4th  were  thrown  into  the  forest 
on  the  left,  and  the  3d  and  the  other  wing  of  the  4th,  on  the 
right  of  the  road.  These  corps  were  employed  as  skirmishers 
to  cover  the  battery  and  engage  the  Mexican  infantry.  Cap 
tain  McCall's  command  became  at  once  engaged  with  the 
enemy,  while  the  light  artillery,  though  in  a  very  exposed  posi 
tion,  did  great  execution.  The  enemy  had  at  least  eight  pieces 
of  artillery,  and  maintained  an  incessant  fire  upon  our  advance. 

"  The  action  now  became  general,  and  although  the  enemy's 
infantry  gave  way  before  the  steady  fire  and  resistless  progress 
of  our  own,  yet  his  artillery  was  still  in  position  to  check  our 
advance — several  pieces  occupying  the  pass  across  the  ravine, 
which  he  had  chosen  for  his  position.  Perceiving  that  no  de- 


v 

144  GALLANTRY    OF    THE    FOURTH. 

'*   • 

cisive  advantage  could  be  gained  until  this  artillery  was  silenced, 
I  ordered  Captain  May  to  charge  the  batteries  with  his  squadron 
of  dragoons.  This  was  gallantly  and  effectually  executed; 
the  enemy  was  driven  from  his  guns,  and  General  La  Vega, 
who  remained  alone  at  one  of  the  batteries,  was  taken  prisoner. 
The  squadron,  which  suffered  much  in  this  charge,  not  being 
immediately  supported  by  infantry,  could  not  retain  possession 
of  the  artillery  taken,  but  it  was  completely  silenced.  In  the 
mean  time,  the  Eighth  Infantry  had  been  ordered  up,  and  had 
become  warmly  engaged  on  the  right  of  the  road.  This  regi 
ment,  and  a  part  of  the  Fifth,  were  now  ordered  to  charge  the 
batteries,  which  was  handsomely  done,  and  the  enemy  driven 
from  his  artillery  and  his  position  on  the  left  of  the  road. 

"  The  light  companies  of  the  First  brigade,  and  the  Third 
and  Fourth  regiments  of  infantry,  had  been  deployed  on  the 
right  of  the  road,  where,  at  various  points,  they  became  briskly 
engaged  with  the  enemy.  A  small  party  under  Captain  Bu 
chanan  and  Lieutenants  Wood  and  Hays,  Fourth  Infantry, 
composed  chiefly  of  men  of  that  regiment,  drove  the  enemy 
from  a  breastwork  which  he  occupied,  and  captured  a  piece  of 
artillery.  An  attempt  to  recover  this  piece  was  repelled  by 
Captain  Barbour,  Third  Infantry.  The  enemy  was  at  last 
completely  driven  from  his  position  on  the  right  of  the  road, 
and  retreated  precipitately,  leaving  baggage  of  every  descrip 
tion.  The  Fourth  Infantry  took  possession  of  a  camp  where 
the  head-quarters  of  the  Mexican  general- in- chief  were  estab 
lished.  All  his  official  correspondence  was  captured  at  this 
place. 

"  The  artillery  battalion  (excepting  the  flank  companies)  had 
been  ordered  to  guard  the  baggage  train,  which  was  parked 
some  distance  in  the  rear.  The  battalion  was  now  ordered  up 
to  pursue  the  enemy,  and  with  the  Third  Infantry,  Captain 
Ker's  dragoons,  and  Captain  Duncan's  battery,  followed  him 
rapidly  to  the  river,  making  a  number  of  prisoners.  Great 
numbers  of  the  enemy  were  drowned  in  attempting  to  cross 
the  river  near  the  town.  The  corps  last  mentioned  encamped 
near  the  river ;  the  remainder  of  the  army  on  the  field  of  battle. 


THE    KILLED    AND    WOUNDED.  145 

«  The  strength  of  our  marching  force  on  this  day,  as  exhi 
bited  in  the  annexed  field  report,  was  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
three  officers,  and  two  thousand  and  forty-nine  men — aggregate, 
two  thousand  two  hundred  and  twenty-two.  The  actual 
number  engaged  with  the  enemy  did  not  exceed  one  thousand 
and  seven  hundred.  Our  loss  was  three  officers  killed  and 
twelve  wounded ;  thirty-six  men  killed  and  seventy-one  wound 
ed.  Among  the  officers  killed,  I  have  to  regret  the  loss  of 
Lieutenant  Inge,  Second  Dragoons,  who  fell  at  the  head  of 
his  platoon,  while  gallantly  charging  the  enemy's  battery  ;  of 
Lieutenant  Cochrane,  of  the  Fourth,  and  Lieutenant  Chad- 
bourne,  of  the  Eighth  Infantry,  who  likewise  met  their  death 
in  the  thickest  of  the  fight.  The  officers  wounded  were 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Payne,  inspector  general ;  Lieutenant  Dob 
bins,  Third  Infantry,  serving  with  the  Light  Infantry  advance, 
slightly  ;  Lieutenant  Colonel  Mclntosh,  Fifth  Infantry,  severely 
(twice) ;  Captain  Hooe,  Fifth  Infantry,  severely  (right  arm 
since  amputated) ;  Lieutenant  Fowler,  Fifth  Infantry,  slightly  ; 
Captain  Montgomery,  Eighth  Infantry,  slightly ;  Lieutenants 
Gates  and  Jordan,  Eighth  Infantry,  severely  (each  twice) ; 
Lieutenants  Selden,  Maclay,  Burbank,  and  Morris,  Eighth  In 
fantry,  slightly.  A  statement  of  the  killed  and  wounded  is 
annexed  herewith. 

« I  have  no  accurate  data  from  which  to  estimate  the  ene 
my's  force  on  this  day.  He  is  known  to  have  been  rein 
forced  after  the  action  of  the  8th,  both  by  cavalry  and 
infantry,  and  no  doubt  to  an  extent  at  least  equal  to  his 
loss  on  that  day.  It  is  probable  that  six  thousand  men  were 
opposed  to  us,  and  in  a  position  chosen  by  themselves,  and 
strongly  defended  with  artillery.  The  enemy's  loss  was  very 
great.  Nearly  two  hundred  of  his  dead  were  buried  by  us  on 
the  day  succeeding  the  battle.  His  loss  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing,  in  the  two  affairs  of  the  8th  and  9th,  is,  I  think, 
moderately  estimated  at  one  thousand  men. 

"  Our  victory  has  been  decisive.  A  small  force  has  over 
come  immense  odds  of  the  best  troops  that  Mexico  can  furnish 
— veteran  regiments  perfectly  equipped  and  appointed.  Eight 
13 


146   NOTICE    OF    PARTICULAR    OFFICERS. 

pieces  of  artillery,  several  colours  and  standards,  a  great 
number  of  prisoners,  including  fourteen  officers,  and  a  large 
amount  of  baggage  and  public  property  have  fallen  into  our 
hands. 

"  The  causes  of  victory  are  doubtless  to  be  found  in  the  su 
perior  quality  of  our  officers  and  men.  I  have  already,  in 
former  reports,  paid  a  general  tribute  to  the  admirable  conduct 
of  the  troops  on  both  days.  It  now  becomes  my  duty — and  I 
feel  it  to  be  one  of  great  delicacy — to  notice  individuals.  In 
so  extensive  a  field  as  that  of  the  8th,  and  in  the  dense 
cover  where  most  of  the  action  of  the  9th  was  fought,  I  could 
not  possibly  be  witness  to  more  than  a  small  portion  of  the 
operations  of  the  various  corps ;  and  I  must,  therefore,  depend 
upon  the  reports  of  subordinate  commanders,  which  I  respect 
fully  enclose  herewith. 

"  Colonel  Twiggs,  the  second  in  command,  was  particularly 
active  on  both  days  in  executing  my  orders,  and  directing  the 
operations  of  the  right  wing.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Mclntosh, 
commanding  the  Fifth  Infantry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Garland, 
commanding  the  Third  brigade,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Belknap, 
commanding  the  First  brigade,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Childs, 
commanding  the  Artillery  Battalion,  Major  Allen,  Captains  L. 
N.  Morris  and  Montgomery,  commanding  respectively  the 
Fourth,  Third,  and  Eighth  regiments  of  Infantry,  were  zealous 
in  the  performance  of  their  duties,  and  gave  examples  to  their 
commands  of  cool  and  fearless  conduct.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Mclntosh  repulsed  with  his  regiment  a  charge  of  lancers  in  the 
action  of  Palo  Alto,  and  shared  with  it  in  the  honours  and 
dangers  of  the  following  day,  being  twice  severely  wounded. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Belknap  headed  a  charge  of  the  Eighth  In 
fantry,  which  resulted  in  driving  the  enemy  from  his  guns,  and 
leaving  us  in  possession  of  that  part  of  the  field. 

"Captain  Duncan  and  Lieutenant  Ridgely  deserve  especial 
notice  for  the  gallant  and  efficient  manner  in  which  they  ma 
noeuvred  and  served  their  batteries.  The  impression  made  by 
Captain  Duncan's  battery  upon  the  extreme  right  of  the  ene 
my's  line,  at  the  affair  of  Palo  Alto,  contributed  largely  to  the 


OFFICERS    AND    CORPS    NOTICED.         147 

result  of  the  day  ;  while  the  terrible  fire  kept  up  by  Lieutenant 
Ridgely,  in  the  affair  of  the  9th,  inflicted  heavy  losses  upon  the 
enemy.  The  eighteen-pounder  battery,  which  played  a  con 
spicuous  part  in  the  action  of  the  8th,  was  admirably  served 
by  Lieutenant  Churchill,  Third  Artillery,  assisted  by  Lieutenant 
Wood,  Topographical  Engineers.  The  charge  of  cavalry  on 
the  9th,  was  gallantly  led  by  Captain  May,  and  had  complete 
success. 

"  Captain  McCall,  Fourth  Infantry,  rendered  distinguished 
service  with  the  advanced  corps  under  his  orders.  Its  loss,  in 
killed  and  wounded,  will  show  how  closely  it  was  engaged. 
I  may  take  this  occasion  to  say  that,  in  two  former  instances, 
Captain  McCall  has  rendered  valuable  service  as  a  partisan 
officer.  In  this  connection,  I  would  mention  the  services  of 
Captain  Walker,  of  the  Texas  Rangers,  who  was  in  both  affairs 
with  his  company,  and  who  has  performed  very  meritorious 
service  as  a  spy  and  partisan. 

"  I  must  beg  leave  to  refer  to  the  reports  of  subordinate  com 
manders  for  the  names  of  many  officers,  non-commissioned 
officers  and  privates,  who  were  distinguished  for  good  conduct 
on  both  days.  Instances  of  individual  gallantry  and  personal 
conflict  with  the  enemy  were  not  wanting  in  the  affair  of  the 
9th,  but  cannot  find  place  in  a  general  report.  The  officers 
serving  in  the  staffs  of  the  different  commanders,  are  particu 
larly  mentioned  by  them. 

"I  derived  efficient  aid  on  both  days  from  all  the  officers  of 
my  staff.  Captain  Bliss,  assistant  adjutant  general,  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Payne,  inspector  general,  Lieutenant  Eaton,  A.  D.  C., 
Captain  Waggaman,  commissary  of  subsistence,  Lieutenant 
Scarret,  engineer,  and  Lieutenants  Blake  and  Meade,  topo 
graphical  engineers,  promptly  conveyed  my  orders  to  every 
part  of  the  field.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Payne  wras  wounded  in 
the  affair  of  the  9th,  and  I  have  already  had  occasion  to  report 
the  melancholy  death  of  Lieutenant  Blake,  by  accident,  in  the 
interval  between  the  two  engagements.  Major  Craig  and  Lieu 
tenant  Brereton,  of  the  ordnance  department,  were  actively  en 
gaged  in  their  appropriate  duties,  and  Surgeon  Craig,  medical 


148          ARISTA'S  MILITARY  ERRORS. 

director,  superintended  in  person  the  arduous  service  of  the 
field  hospitals.  I  take  this  occasion  to  mention  generally  the 
devotion  to  duty  of  the  medical  staff  of  the  army,  who  have 
been  untiring  in  their  exertions  both  in  the  field  and  in  the 
hospitals,  to  alleviate  the  sufferings  of  the  wounded  of  both 
armies.  Captains  Grossman  and  Myres  of  the  quartermaster's 
department,  who  had  charge  of  the  heavy  supply  train  at  both 
engagements,  conducted  it  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner,  and 
finally  brought  it  up  without  the  smallest  loss,  to  its  destina 
tion. 

"  I  enclose  an  inventory  of  the  Mexican  property  captured 
on  the  field,  and  also  a  sketch  of  the  field  of  <  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,'  and  of  the  route  from  Point  Isabel,  made  by  my  aid- 
de-camp,  Lieutenant  Eaton.  One  regimental  colour,  (Battalion 
of  Tampico,)  and  many  standards  and  guidons  of  cavalry 
were  taken  at  the  affair  of  the  9th.  I  would  be  pleased  to 
receive  your  instructions  as  to  the  disposition  to  be  made  of 
these  trophies — whether  they  shall  be  sent  to  Washington,  &c." 

The  victory  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma  was  a  proper  sequel  to 
that  of  Palo  Alto.  Well  as  General  Taylor  knew  himself, 
confidently  as  he  trusted  his  officers  and  men  before  a  blow 
had  passed  on  either  side,  and  well  prepared  as  he  may  have 
been,  while  encamped  opposite  Matamoros  for  an  assault, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  his  situation,  before  the  battles  of 
the  8th  and  9th  of  May  was  very  critical.  It  was  the  misfor 
tune  of  the  Mexicans  to  have  generals,  who,  however  skilful  in 
action,  were  tardy  in  their  movements,  and  deficient  in  expe 
dients,  and  incapable  of  taking  advantage  of  circumstances 
palpably  in  their  favour.  The  American  army  reached  the 
banks  of  the  Rio  Grande,  after  its  march  from  Corpus  Christi, 
on  the  28th  of  March.  No  effort  had  been  made  to  resist  its 
original  progress.  The  passage,  of  the  Arroyo  Colorado,  was 
permitted,  as  has  been  seen,  without  the  firing  of  a  gun.  So 
the  original  occupation  of  Point  Isabel — a  position  easily  for 
tified — was  allowed,  when  ordinary  military  forecast  on  the 
part  of  the  Mexican  commander  should  have  taught  him,  that 
General  Taylor  could  not  leave  that  post  in  his  rear  occupied 


SUFFERING    OF    THE    FUGITIVES.          149 

by  an  enemy.  But  the  fatal  error  of  all,  for  which  Arista  is  re 
sponsible,  is  that  he  permitted  Point  Isabel,  the  depot  of  the 
American  stores,  to  remain  in  the  possession  of  a  small  garri 
son  for  four  weeks,  when  at  any  moment  during  that  time,  he 
might  have  thrown  an  overwhelming  force  across  the  Rio 
Grande  and  made  himself  master  of  the  place.  Had  he  done 
this,  he  might  at  least  have  afforded  his  unfortunate  country 
one  achievement  to  boast  of,  in  a  war  which  from  first  to  last 
is  a  chapter  in  her  history  of  unmitigated  disaster  and  sorrow. 
This  hypothesis  does  not  carry  with  it  a  doubt  of  the  ability 
of  Taylor's  little  army  to  have  met  the  enemy  as  efficiently  at 
any  moment,  as  on  the  days  when  it  proved  victorious  against 
more  than  thrice  its  force.  But  it  shows  that  for  the  Mexicans 
the  only  chance  of  even  embarrassing  the  Americans  was 
thrown  away,  and  the  latter  were  suffered  to  repel  the  first 
formidable  opposition  to  their  progress,  with  a  degree  of  ex 
traordinary  and  glorious  success,  which  coloured  their  hopes, 
added  vigour  to  their  energies,  and  assurance  to  their  courage. 

If  the  caAage  among  the  Mexicans  on  the  8th  excited  the 
pity  even  of  their  enemies,  that  of  the  9th  must  have  appealed 
still  more  to  their  sympathies.  The  evening  closed  on  hun 
dreds  of  them,  wounded,  dying,  and  dead  upon  the  field  and 
on  the  road  to  the  river.  In  the  panic  of  flight,  self-preserva 
tion  was  the  single  thought  of  each  individual.  The  bleeding 
and  the  exhausted  were  borne  down  and  forsaken  by  the  sound 
and  the  strong.  The  parties  on  foot  were  trampled  by  the 
cavalry ;  and  none  of  the  multitude  fleeing  from  their  foes, 
found  help  or  comfort  from  their  friends.  The  thickets  and 
the  hollows,  ttistant  from  the  scene  of  strife,  long  afterwards 
told  the  story  of  many  a  wounded  soldier,  who  had  struggled 
on  to  some  secluded  spot,  there  to  linger,  to  thirst,  to  hunger, 
to  bleed,  to  faint,  and  to  perish,  alone  in  his  long  and  varied 
agony. 

If  General  Taylor,  in  the  stern  duty  of  the  battle,  proved  his 

devotion  to  the  mission  he  had  accepted,  he  equally  testified, 

when  its  labour  was  done,  his  tender  consideration  for  all  who 

had  suffered  in  it.     The  wounded  on  both  sides  received  all 

13* 


150  TAYLOR'S  CONGRATULATORY  ORDER. 

the  care  that  the  occasion  permitted.  Through  the  night  the 
medical  staff  of  his  army  were  labouring  to  relieve  them,  and 
in  the  morning  he  sent  to  Matamoros  for  Mexican  surgeons  to 
further  attend  upon  their  countrymen.  The  same  day  was 
spent  in  collecting  as  many  of  the  dead  as  could  be  seen  on 
the  battle-ground,  and  paying  to  their  remains  the  last  honours 
of  war.  In  the  same  graves  were  laid  those  who  had  met  as 
enemies,  and  had  fallen  striving  for  life  against  life.  The  field 
was  indeed  theirs,  but  not  as  they  had  hoped  to  gain  it. 

On  the  llth,  General  Taylor  returned  to  Point  Isabel  (the 
army  have  proceeded  to  its  camp  opposite  Matamoros),  for  the 
purpose  of  conferring  with  Commodore  Conner.  Before  his 
departure  the  following  official  acknowledgment  was  made  of 
the  gallantry  and  good  conduct  of  the  troops. 

Head- Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation, 
Resaca  de  la  Palma,  May  11, 1846. 

The  commanding  general  congratulates  the  army  under  his 
command  upon  the  signal  success  which  has  crowned  its  re 
cent  operations  against  the  enemy.  The  coolness  and  steadi 
ness  of  the  troops  during  the  action  of  the  8th,  and  the  bril 
liant  impetuosity  with  which  the  enemy's  position  and  artillery 
were  carried  on  the  9th,  have  displayed  the  best  qualities  of 
the  American  soldier.  To  every  officer  and  soldier  of  his 
command,  the  general  returns  his  thanks  for  the  noble  manner 
in  which  they  have  sustained  the  honour  of  the  service  and  of 
the  country.  While  the  main  body  of  the  army  has  been  thus 
actively  employed,  the  garrison  left  opposite  Matamoros  has 
rendered  no  less  distinguished  service,  by  sustaining  a  severe 
cannonade  and  bombardment  for  many  successive  days.  The 
army  and  the  country,  while  justly  rejoicing  in  this  triumph  of 
our  arms,  will  deplore  the  loss  of  many  brave  officers  and  men 
who  fell  gallantly  in  the  hour  of  combat. 

It  being  necessary  for  the  commanding  general  to  visit  Point 
Isabel  on  public  business,  Col.  Twiggs  will  assume  command 
of  the  corps  of  the  army  near  Matamoros,  including  the  gar 
rison  of  the  field-work.  He  will  occupy  the  former  lines  of 


ADDRESS    TO    THE    MEXICANS.  151 

the  army,  making  such  dispositions  for  defence  and  for  the 
comfort  of  his  command  as  he  may  deem  advisable.  He  will 
hold  himself  strictly  on  the  defensive  until  the  return  of  the 
commanding  general. 

By  order  of  Brig.  Gen.  Taylor. 

W.  W.  J.  BLISS,  Act.  Adj.  General. 

In  contrast  with  this  congratulation  of  the  victorious  gene 
ral,  is  the  subjoined  manifesto  to  the  Mexican  army.  It  is 
elevated  in  spirit  and  superior  in  style  to  the  ordinary  official 
papers  of  the  nation.  There  is  a  frank  avowal  of  defeat  and 
an  honourable  resolution  to  wipe  off  disgrace. 

'•  '"§  ';* 

The  Commander-in-chief  of  the  Department  of  Tamaulipas  to  the  Troops 
under  his  command. 

FELLOW-CITIZENS  :  The  afternoon  of  the  8th  of  this  month 
our  brothers  of  Matamoros  have  fought  with  intrepidity  and 
enthusiasm  in  the  Tanque  del  Ramerino.  On  the  9th  they 
charged  again  with  the  same  ardour.  But  fate  has  not  crowned 
our  efforts.  The  enemy  passed  from  the  fort,  favoured  by  the 
dense  smoke  of  a  wood  on  fire,  which  protected  them  from 
our  shot.  Thus  have  our  enemies  escaped ! 

Soldiers  !  another  time  we  shall  conquer.  Such  is  the  fate 
of  war,  a  defeat  to-day  and  glory  to-morrow  ;  that  glory  which 
shall  be  ours  at  the  end  of  this  holy  struggle.  The  God  of 
battles  is  trying  our  valour,  but  he  has  not  abandoned  us.  We 
know  how  to  conquer,  and  we  know  how  to  suffer. 

Soldiers !  the  lamentation  of  the  soldier  for  the  companion 
who  dies  on  the  field  of  battle  ought  to  be  a  shot  well-aimed 
at  the  enemy.  Those  are  the  tears  which  our  brothers  require 
of  our  love.  Their  tomb  must  be  raised  in  the  American 
camp.  The  corpses  of  the  Yankees  ought  to  form  their  mau 
soleums. 

Soldiers !  if  we  have  lost  some  of  our  brothers,  the  glory 
will  be  greater,  there  will  be  fewer  conquerors ;  it  is  not  the 
number  which  gives  victory.  There  were  but  three  hundred 
Spartans,  and  the  powerful  Xerxes  did  not  cross  the  Ther 
mopylae.  The  celebrated  army  of  the  great  Napoleon  perished 


152       COURAGE    OF    MEXICAN    SOLDIERS. 

in  Spain  at  Jhe  hands  of  a  defenceless  people,  but  they  were 
free  and  intrepid,  and  were  fighting  for  their  liberty. 

Fellow»soldiers  !  shall  we  do  less  than  they  did  ?  We  are 
fighting  for  our  liberty,  our  religion,  our  country,  our  cradles, 
our  graves.  Let  him  who  does  not  wish  to  die  a  traitor,  him 
who  wishes  to  deserve  the  tears  of  his  children,  let  him  take 
breath  and  sustain  his  courage.  He  must  not  faint,  he  must 
not  fear,  but  what  have  we  to  fear  ?  The  heart  tells  us  that  in 
,it  we  shall  find  all  that  is  requisite ;  and  our  hearts  we  will 
oppose  to  the  enemy. 

Soldiers !  vengeance  for  our  brothers !  glory  for  our  children ! 
honour  for  our  country! 

We  defend  those  cherished  feelings.  Do  not  fear.  I  swear 
to  you  that  if  the  day  be  a  labourious  one,  our  glory  will  be 
sweeter ;  but  glory  we  will  have,  and  your  general  and  com 
panion  will  attain  it  with  your  loyalty  and  valour. 

ANASTASIO  PARRODE. 

Tampico,  May  13th,  1846. 

Unfortunately  for  Mexico,  her  chiefs  are  more  prone  to 
"  swear"  what  they  will  do,  than  to  prove  by  deeds  their 
"loyalty  and  valour."  All  accounts  of  the  battles  of  the  8th 
and  9th  of  May  agree  in  awarding  to  the  Mexican  soldiers  the 
merit  of  courage  and  perseverance,  and  if,  with  these  qualities, 
they  were  beaten  by  one-third  their  number  of  our  troops,  the 
reason  is,  in  part  at  least,  to  be  found  in  the  incompetency  and 
cowardice  of  their  officers.  That  there  is  ground  for  this  as 
sertion,  beyond  the  fact  that  the  latter  suffered  little,  while  their 
men  were  decimated  by  our  arms,  may  be  shown  by  the  fol 
lowing  extract  from  Mayer's  excellent  work  on  Mexico,  writ 
ten  at  a  time  when  her  peaceful  relations  with  the  United  States 
forbade  any  bias  in  the  author's  view  of  her  institutions  and 
people.  In  a  notice  of  a  review  of  troops  in  the  capital  in 
1842,  Mr.  Mayer  says : 

"  I  have  seldom  seen  better-looking  regiments  in  Europe 
than  the  Eleventh  Infantry,  under  the  command  of  Lombardini. 
The  arms  are  clean  and  bright,  and  the  officers  of  division 
appear  to  be  well-trained,  and  to  have  imparted  their  training 


MEXICAN    OFFICERS    DEFICIENT.        153 

to  the  men.  On  the  13th  of  June,  1842,  about  eigh^  thousand 
troops  were  brought  together  to  be  reviewed  by  General  Santa 
Anna  on  the  meadows  south  of  the  city.  In  line  they  had  an 
extremely  martial  bearing.  *  *  *  Excellent  and  daring 
riders  as  are  all  the  Mexicans,  they  must  ever  have  a  decided 
advantage  in  their  caValry,  and"  although  they  do  not  present 
so  splendid  an  appearance  in  equipments  as  some  other  regi 
ments,  I  have  no  doubt  they  constitute  the  most  effective  arm 
of  the  Mexican  service.  Indeed,  almost  all  the  foreigners,  and 
even  Texans,  with  whom  I  have  spoken  in  regard  to  the  quali 
ties  of  these  men,  concur  in  a  high  estimate  of  the  Mexican 
soldier,  although  they  do  not  think  so  well  of  the  Mexican 
officers.  This,  in  all  probability,  arises  from  the  irregular 
manner  in  which  persons  arrive  at  command,  and  the  want  of 
soldier-like  education  and  discipline."  These  remarks  apply 
to  the  commissioned  officers.  Of  the  non-commissioned  offi 
cers,  who,  it  may  be  presumed,  belong  to  the  same  class  of 
people  as  the  men,  the  author  says:  "  The  drilling  of  the  men 
is  severe  and  constant.  The  sergeant  is  generally  a  well-trained 
soldier."  And  again,  of  the  men  and  superior  officers  he 
remarks:  "That  the  Mexicans  are  brave  none  will  doubt, 
who  read  the  history  of  their  War  of  Independence,  although 
the  bad  discipline  of  their  officers  has  prevented  the  very  emi 
nent  exhibition  of  this  quality  in  their  foreign  battles." 

Such,  then,  is  the  military  character  of  the  enemy  with  whom 
General  Taylor  was  brought  into  conflict.  To  explain  thus 
one  cause  of  the  defeat  of  their  armies  does  not  'detract  from 
the  merit  of  his  victories.  Inequality  there  must  have  been 
either  in  material,  discipline,  generalship,  arms,  or  position,  to 
account  for  the  triumph  of  two  thousand  men  over  six  thousand, 
in  two  distinct  battles  on  two  successive  days.  In  discipline, 
the  Mexicans  were  not  deficient.  Their  arms  were  perfect, 
their  position  formidable.  The  excellent  material  of  their  ranks 
has  been  shown.  The  want,  therefore,  was  of  officers  worthy 
of  the  troops,  and  this  want  was  doubly  felt  in  a  contest  with 
an  enemy  whose  officers  were  not  only  competent  in  the  tech 
nics  of  their  duty,  but  thoroughly  self- devoted,  wholly  reckless 


154   TAYLOR'S  PERSONAL  COURAGE. 

of  person^  danger — from  the  commander-in-chief  to  the  cor 
poral,  ever  in  the  front,  where  the  fight  was  hottest,  where 
death  was  surest.  The  battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma  afforded  many  brilliant  illustrations  of  this  remark.  The 
descriptions  of  them  given  above,  designedly  general  in  their 
character,  do  not  comprehend  many  anecdotes  of  individual 
heroism,  which  would  necessarily  impair  a  broad  and  connected 
view  of  the  management,  and  result  of  either.  A  few  exam 
ples,  however,  in  this  place,  may  serve  to  confirm  the  opinion 
of  the  superiority  of  the  American  officers,  as  a  class,  compared 
with  the  Mexican,  and  to  extend  the  record  of  acts  which 
their  countrymen  must  cherish  with  pride  and  gratitude.  Mr. 
Thorpe's  spirited  narrative,  "  Our  Army  on  the  Rio  Grande," 
furnishes  some  of  these  instances.  Others  are  selected  from 
private  letters,  and  the  newspapers  of  the  day. 

When  the  Mexican  Lancers  were  charging  our  right  at  Palo 
Alto,  Lieutenant  Ridgely's  horse  was  shot  from  under  him, 
and  the  same  ball  probably  that  caused  the  death  of  his  steed, 
alarmed  the  horses  at  one  of  his  caissons,  which  sprang  madly 
forward  in  range  of  the  gun.  Lieutenant  Ridgely,  regardless 
of  personal  danger,  rushed  forward  between  the  two  contending 
fires,  seized  the  front  horses  by  the  head,  and  brought  them 
into  their  places ;  thus  saving  not  only  his  horses,  but  the  am 
munition  of  his  battery. 

It  was  the  Fifth  regiment  of  Infantry  which  was  ordered  to 
meet  this  charge  of  the  Lancers,  and,  when  thrown  forward  for 
the  purpose,  "General  Taylor  rode  up,  and  said,  "  Men,  I  place 
myself  in  your  square  !"  Could  they  falter,  with  such  an  evi 
dence  of  their  commander's  valour,  and  of  his  confidence  in 
them  ? 

Towards  the  close  of  the  same  action,  the  Mexicans,  as  has 
been  mentioned,  formed  a  desperate  resolution  to  silence  the 
eighteen-pounders,  and  Ringgold's  pieces,  which  hurled  con 
stant  destruction  into  their  ranks.  To  accomplish  this,  they 
poured  from  their  batteries  a  hurricane  of  grape  and  cannister, 
killing  and  wounding  many  of  the  Fourth,  and,  among  them, 
the  gallant  Captain  Page.  At  that  moment,  Colonel  Payne, 


*  Jf   * 

LETTER    OF    LIEUT.    RICKEY.  155 

inspector  general  of  the  army,  and  one  of  Taylor's  aids,  came 
and  asked  permission  to  sight  one  of  Ringgold's  guns.  He 
had  just  done  so,  with  effect,  when  he  heard  his  name  beseech 
ingly  called  by  one  of  the  soldiers,  and,  turning  round,  dis 
covered  Ringgold  wounded,  as  has  been  described.  Amid 
the  shower  of  balls,  which  still  continued,  Colonel  Payne  re 
mained  with  him  to  sustain  him,  and  to  hear,  what  he  then 
supposed  might  be,  the  last  words  of  the  dying  man. 

At  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Lieut.  John  A.  Richey,  who  in  a 
subsequent  service  fell  a  sacrifice,  took  part  in  a  daring  adven 
ture,  which  he  thus  described  in  a  letter :  "A  short  time  after 
the  battle  began,  several  of  us  became  separated  in  the  brush, 
and  started  forward,  with  the  few  men  we  could  collect  at  the 
moment,  to  take  a  battery  of  the  Mexicans  that  was  blazing 
upon  us.  We  dashed  forward  into  the  ravine,  across  the  stream 
which  ran  through  it,  and,  clambering  up  the  opposite  bank, 
rushed  across  the  openings  of  the  chapparal  towards  the  bat 
tery.  While  passing  through,  I  got  separated  for  about  ten 
minutes  from  Lieutenants  Woods  and  Hays  ;  when  I  rejoined 
them,  they  had  captured  the  cannon :  they  had  dashed  onward 
upon  the  enemy  attended  by  only  one  man.  The  cannoneers 
immediately  turned  and  fled.  Before  doing  so  they  had  set 
fire  to  the  priming-tube,  the  gun  being  loaded.  The  match 
was  about  to  ignite  the  powder,  when  Lieut.  Woods  knocked 
the  priming  off  with  his  sword.  In  the  mean  time  some  Mexi 
cans  ran  to  the  mules  attached  to  the  piece  by  a  long  pole,  and 
endeavoured  to  drag  it  off.  Hays,  perceiving  their  intention, 
sprang  forward  and  snapped  his  pistol  at  them.  At  the  same 
moment  Woods  caught  hold  of  the  driving-reins.  By  this  time 
our  party  was  reinforced,  and  moved  forward  along  the  road, 
firing  all  the  time  and  driving  the  enemy  before  us.  We  pro 
ceeded  in  this  way  with  about  twenty  men.  Woods  now 
separated  from  us,  and  we  were  joined  by  Lieuts.  Angur  and 
Cochrane  of  the  4th.  Our  little  party  was  composed  of  men 
belonging  to  every  regiment  in  the  army.  We  advanced  a 
great  distance  in  front  of  the  main  body  and  were  surrounded 
on  all  sides  by  the  Mexicans."  Capt.  Barbour  soon  joined 
-  '•-:  '  «T 


156          LETTER    OF    SERGEANT    MILTON. 

this  bold  party.  It  was  on  this  occasion  that  Lieut.  Cochrane 
fell,  when  immediately  afterwards  it  was  charged  by  the  lancers. 
Corporal  Chisholm  shot  the  Colonel  who  led  the  charge.  As 
the  officer  fell,  the  corporal  was  seen  to  hand  him  his  canteen 
of  water — and,  but  a  moment  afterwards,  Chisholm  himself 
•  J*  *  was  lying  dead. 

The  famous  charge  of  May's  dragoons,  on  the  9th,  has  al 
ready  been  described.  The  following  account  of  incidents 
connected  with  it  is  by  Sergeant  Milton,  one  of  his  officers. 

"  On  the  second  day,  at  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  our  troop 
stood  anxiously  waiting  for  the  signal  to  be  given,  and  never 
had  I  looked  upon  men  upon  whose  countenances  were  more 
clearly  expressed  a  fixed  determination  to  win.  The  lips  of 
some  were  pale  with  excitement,  and  their  eyes  wore  that  fixed 
expression  which  betokens  mischief;  others  with  shut  teeth 
would  quietly  laugh  and  catch  a  tighter  grip  of  the  rein,  or 
seat  themselves  with  care  and  firmness  in  the  saddle,  while 
quiet  words  of  confidence  and  encouragement  were  passed  from 
each  to  his  neighbour.  All  at  once  Captain  May  rode  to  the 
front  of  his  troop — every  rein  and  sabre  was  tightly  grasped. 
Raising  himself,  and  pointing  at  the  battery,  he  shouted,  <  Men, 
follow  /'  There  was  now  a  clattering  of  hoofs  and  a  rattling 
of  sabre-sheaths — the  fire  of  the  enemy's  guns  was  partly  drawn 
by  Lieutenant  Ridgely,  and  the  next  moment  we  were  sweeping 
like  the  wind  up  the  ravine.  I  was  in  a  squad  of  about  nine 
men,  who  were  separated  by  a  shower  cf  grape  from  the  bat 
tery,  and  we  were  in  advance,  May  leading.  He  turned  his 
horse  opposite  the  breast- work,  in  front  of  the  guns,  and  with 
another  shout  <to  follow,'  leaped  over  them.  Several  of  the 
horses  did  follow,  but  mine,  being  new  and  not  well-trained, 
refused ;  two  others  balked,  and  their  riders  started  down  the 
ravine  to  turn  the  breast-work  where  the  rest  of  the  troop  had 
entered.  I  made  another  attempt  to  clear  the  guns  with  my 
horse,  turning  him  around  —  feeling  all  the  time  secure  at 
thinking  the  guns  discharged — I  put  his  head  towards  them 
and  gave  him  spur,  but  he  again  balked ;  so,  turning  his  head 
down  the  ravine,  I  too  started  to  ride  round  the  breast-work. 


MURDER    OF    THE    WOUNDED.  157 

« As  I  came  down  a  lancer  dashed  at  me  with  lance  in  rest. 
With  my  sabre  I  parried  his  thrust,  only  receiving  a  slight  flesh 
wound,  from  its  point,  in  the  arm,  which  felt  at  the  time  like 
the  prick  of  a  pin.  The  lancer  turned  and  fled ;  at  that  mo 
ment  a  ball  passed  through  my  horse  on  the  left  side  and  shat 
tered  my  right  side.  The  shot  killed  the  horse  instantly,  and 
he  fell  upon  my  left  leg,  fastening  me  by  his  weight  to  the 
earth.  There  I  lay,  right  in  the  midst  of  the  action,  where 
carnage  was  riding  riot,  and  every  moment  the  shot,  from  our 
own  and  the  Mexican  guns,  tearing  up  the  earth  around  me.  I 
tried  to  raise  my  horse  so  as  to  extricate  my  leg,  but  I  had 
already  grown  so  weak  with  my  wound  that  I  was  unable,  and, 
from  the  mere  attempt,  I  fell  back  exhausted.  To  add  to  my 
horror  a  horse,  who  was  careering  about  riderless,  within  a  few 
yards  of  me,  received  a  wound,  and  he  commenced  struggling 
and  rearing  with  pain.  Two  or  three  times  he  came  near  fall 
ing  on  me,  but  at  length,  with  a  screarn  of  agony  and  a  bound, 
he  fell  dead — his  body  touching  rny  own  fallen  steed.  What 
I  had  been  in  momentary  dread  of  now  occurred — my  wounded 
limb,  which  was  lying  across  the  horse,  received  another  ball 
in  the  ankle. 

"  I  now  felt  disposed  to  give  up  ;  and,  exhausted  through 
pain  and  excitement,  a  film  gathered  over  my  eyes,  which  I 
thought  was  the  precursor  of  dissolution.  From  this  hopeless 
state  I  was  aroused  by  a  wounded  Mexican,  calling  out  to  me, 
<  Bueno  Americano,'  and  turning  my  eyes  towards  the  spot,  I 
saw  that  he  was  holding  a  certificate  and  calling  to  me.  The 
tide  of  action  now  rolled  away  from  me,  and  hope  again  sprung 
up.  The  Mexican  uniforms  began  to  disappear  from  the  chap- 
paral,  and  squadrons  of  our  troops  passed  in  sight,  apparently 
in  pursuit.  While  I  was  thus  nursing  the  prospect  of  escape,  I 
beheld,  not  far  from  me,  a  villainous-looking  ranchero,  armed 
with  an  American  sergeant's  short  sword,  despatching  a 
wounded  American  soldier,  whose  body  he  robbed.  The  next 
he  came  to  was  a  Mexican,  whom  he  served  the  same  way,  and 
thus  I  looked  on  while  he  murderously  slew  four.  I  drew  an 
undischarged  pistol  from  my  holsters,  and,  laying  myself  along 
14 


'        V         -i-%  * 

158          GALLANTRY    OF    COL.    BELKNAP. 

my  horse's  neck,  watched  him,  expecting  to  be  the  next  victim  ; 
but  something  frightened  him  from  his  vulture-like  business, . j^' 
and  he  fled  in  another  direction.  J  need  not  say  that  had  he 
visited  me  I  should  have  taken  one  more  shot  at  the  enemy,  and 
would  have  died  content  had  I  succeeded  in  making  such  an 
assassin  bite  the  dust.  Two  hours  after,  I  had  the  pleasure  of 
shaking  some  of  my  comrades  by  the  hand,  who  were  picking 
up  the  wounded.  They  lifted  my  Mexican  friend,  too,  and  I 
am  pleased  to  say  he,  as  well  as  myself,  live  to  fight  over  again 
the  sanguine  fray  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma." 

Another  writer  relates  this  instance  of  personal  bravery : 
"  During  the  progress  of  the  action,  Lieutenant  Lincoln,  of 
the  Eighth  regiment,  made  a  charge  upon  a  body  of  Mexicans 
lodged  in  a  thicket  of  chapparal,  who  were  pouring  a  destruc 
tive  fire  upon  his  regiment  as  it  advanced  up  the  road.  In  the 
midst  of  the  conflict,  he  saw  Lieutenant  Jordan,  (who  had  per 
sonally  charged  the  enemy,)  wounded  upon  the  ground,  with 
a  Mexican  over  him,  in  the  act  of  running  a  bayonet  through 
his  body ;  Lincoln  sprang  forward,  and  the  Mexican  faltering, 
in  alarm,  ran  his  bayonet  through  the  arm,  instead  of  the  breast 
of  Jordan.  At  the  same  instant,  Lincoln  cleft  his  scull.  This 
gallant  officer,  with  his  sergeant,  engaged  in  a  conflict  with 
others  of  the  enemy,  causing  them  to  retreat,  after  having  slain 
three  of  them  with  their  own  hands.  Lieutenant  Chadbourne, 
also  of  the  Eighth,  after  distinguishing  himself  for  his  bravery, 
in  one  of  these  skirmishes  fell  mortally  wounded,  at  the  head 
of  his  command." 

When  May  had  captured  the  battery,  being  unable  with  his 
handful  df  men  to  retain  it,  he  rode  back  to  the  Eighth  for 
support.  Col.  Belknap  immediately  ordered  the  Eighth  to 
form  in  the  road,  when  he  led  it  on  in  person.  While  advanc 
ing  he  was  joined  by  a  part  of  the  Fifth  Infantry  under  Captain 
Scott.  For  an  instant  the  fire  of  the  Mexicans  checked  the 
advance,  when  Col.  Belknap  sprang  forward,  and  seizing  one 
of  their  standards,  waved  on  his  troops,  who  were  now,  with 
the  entire  Fifth  regiment,  engaged  in  a  hand-to-hand  conflict  with 
the  celebrated  Tampico  veterans.  In  the  charge  Col.  Belknap  had 


ENTHUSIASM    IN    BATTLE. 

the  staff  of  his  standard  shot  away,  and  at  the  same  instant  his 
horse,  coming  among  a  pile  of  dead  and  wounded  artillerists, 
made  a  sudden  movement  aside  and  threw  his  rider.  The 
Eighth  took  up  the  cry  that  their  commander  was  killed,  and 
dealt  their  blows  the  heavier,  when  he  again  appeared  at  the 
head  of  his  column. 

The  indomitable  bravery  of  Lieut.  Col.  Mclntosh  has  already 
been  mentioned.  During  a  charge,  he  cut  his  way  through  a 
wall  of  chapparal,  and  just  as  he  reached  the  opposite  side,  his 
horse  was  shot  and  fell.  The  Mexicans  rushed  on  him,  and 
he  defended  himself  against  odds,  until  a  bayonet  passed 
through  his  mouth  and  out  below  his  ear.  He  raised  his  sword 
to  strike  the  assailant,  when  another  bayonet  broke  his  arm, 
and  a  third  pierced  his  hip,  and  he  fell  literally  pinned  to  the 
earth.  Soon  afterwards  Duncan  came  hurrying  forward  with 
his  battery,  Mclntosh  having  been  left  by  his  enemies,  and  re 
gained  his  feet.  Duncan,  not  perceiving  his  condition,  requested 
his  support.  The  Colonel  turning  presented  a  most  ghastly 
appearance,  from  his  face  .down  covered  with  blood.  Yet  he 
answered,  although  speaking  with  difficulty,  "  I  will  give  you 
the  support  you  want ;"  and  added,  "  show  me  my  regiment !" 

A  witness  of  the  whole  action,  in  concluding  a  descriptive 
letter  says : 

"  How  can  I  describe  the  personal  acts  of  bravery,  not  only 
in  one  instance  but  in  twenty,  not  simply  by  the  officer  but  by 
the  common  soldier.  The  whole  battle  was  fought  by  indi 
vidual  squads,  led  sometimes  by  an  officer,  and  frequently  by 
the  non-commissioned  officer.  I  could  not  say  too  much  for 
every  man  engaged.  So  eager  were  our  men  for  the  fight,  that 
I  cannot  better  describe  their  enthusiasm  than  to  give  you  the 
idea  that  struck  me.  It  was  this.  Every  man — officer  and 
soldier — seemed  impressed  with  the  idea  that  there  was  but  a 
given  quantity  of  fighting  to  be  had,  not  enough  for  every  man 
to  have  his  fill  of  it,  and  therefore  it  became  every  man  to  get 
what  he  could  as  soon  as  possible. 

"Instances  there  were  where  one  man,  charging  upon  their 


160  THE    GARRISON    IN    THE    FORT. 

batteries,  leaped  astride  their  pieces,  and  holding  on  with  one 
hand,  beat  off  their  gunners,  or  were  themselves  cut  down." 

Of  devotion  such  as  this,  it  is  needless  to  multiply  examples. 
To  conquer  such  men  were  impossible.  Only  their  equals  in 
daring  and  magnanimity  could  ever  maintain  with  them  an 
equal  contest. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

.      - 

The  8th  of  May  at  Fort  Brown — Anxiety  of  the  Garrison — News  of  Palo 
Alto — Bombardment  on  the  9th — Mexican  Fugitives  seen — Recklessness  in 
their  Panic — Disappointment  and  Suffering  in  Matamoros — The  Wounded 
and  Dead — Despatches  from  Taylor — Incidents  of  La  Vega's  Capture — Tay 
lor's  Courtesy  to  him — Taylor's  return  to  the  Rio  Grande — Commodore  Con 
ner — Barita  taken — Preparations  to  Bombard  Matamoros — Armistice  offered 
and  refused — Arista's  final  Retreat — Occupation  of  Matamoros — Despatch 
from  General  Taylor — Arista's  report  of  his  Retreat — Anecdote  of  Ampudia 
—Document  found  in  Arista's  Tent — Result  of  Taylor's  Operations. 

IT  was  on  the  8th  of  May,  about  two  hours  after  mid- day, 
that  the  garrison  of  Fort  Brown  heard,  during  a  brief  pause  in 
the  bombardment,  which  had  been  braved  for  more  than  a 
hundred  hours,  the  distant  thunder  of  other  guns.  Rapid  and 
constant  was  the  echo,  and  it  was  welcomed  as  the  harbinger  of 
relief.  Taylor  was  on  his  march,  and  Arista  had  met  him.  So 
the  garrison  confidently  felt,  when  the  roar  of  the  battle  on  the 
plain  of  Palo  Alto  was  borne  faintly  to  the  banks  of  the  Rio 
Grande.  Still  the  batteries  from  the  surrounding  works  of  the 
Mexicans  maintained  their  discharges  upon  the  fort.  The  shells 
fell  thick  and  fast  until  sunset,  and,  in  the  mean  time,  infantry 
and  cavalry  of  the  enemy  were  seen  crossing  the  river,  above 
and  below,  to  reinforce  Arista's  army.  Every  heart  of  the 
gallant  band  within  the  entrenchment  beat  quickly  with  intense 
excitement.  Their  friends  were  few,  their  foes  were  many,  and 
upon  the  issue  of  the  fight  was  their  own  safety.  As  evening 
came  on,  a  Mexican,  bearing  a  white  flag,  was  seen  running 


THE    GARRISON    ASSURED    OF    RELIEF.  161 

towards  the  fort.  He  claimed  protection,  and  was  admitted. 
From  him  the  story  of  the  day  was  learned.  The  armies  had 
met,  and  Arista  was  driven  back.  The  trust  of  the  garrison 
in  Taylor's  return  was  not  in  vain.  He  had  promised,  and 
through  seven  thousand  bayonets  and  lances  he  would  come. 

Through  the  night  of  the  8th  the  bombardment  of  the  Fort 
was  suspended,  and  its  weary  tenants  enjoyed  by  turns  their 
first  repose,  although  their  guns  were  not  forsaken.  On  the 
morning  of  the  9th  the  storm  of  round  shot  and  shells  was  re 
newed.  With  occasional  intervals,  it  continued  until  two 
o'clock.  There  was  then  a  calm,  and  in  that  calm,  the  brave 
commander,  Major  Brown,  who  had  lingered  under  his  wound 
for  three  days,  peacefully  died.  His  sufferings  were  great,  and 
proved  his  fortitude  equal  to  his  courage.  While  his  friends 
were  still  gathered  near  his  bed,  distant  cannon  were  again 
heard  ; — distant,  yet  nearer  than  on  the  preceding  day.  The  ' 
din  of  the  battle  grew  by  degrees  yet  louder  and  nearer.  Then 
there  were  pauses,  and  again  the  voice  of  the  deep  artillery 
rolled  from  beyond  the  chapparal.  The  batteries  at  Matamo- 
ros  now  resumed  their  futile  fire,  and  more  rapidly  than  ever 
cast  their  balls  in  the  midst  of  the  American  works.  But  they 
were  unheeded.  The  distant  fight  alone  engaged  the  thoughts 
of  the  besieged.  Its  cannon  for  a  time  wholly  ceased,  and  then 
volleys  of  musketry  were  distinctly  heard  telling  a  closer  en 
counter.  Hope  and  apprehension  were  painfully  mingled,  and 
expectation  was  tortured  with  uncertainty.  So  wore  the  after 
noon  away,  the  noise  of  the  contest  becoming  by  degrees 
nearer,  but  more  irregular.  Then  there  was  a  perfect  calm. 
The  battle  was  over.  The  field  had  been  lost  and  won.  The 
sun  was  still  above  the  horizon,  when,  breaking  through  the 
chapparal,  parties  of  Mexican  troops  were  seen  rushing  in  full 
retreat  to  the  river.  In  an  instant  the  parapets  of  the  Fort 
were  manned,  and  cheer  after  cheer  told  the  exultation  of  its 
defenders,  while  their  ammunition,  long  and  carefully  reserved, 
was  used  to  bear  more  desperate  confusion  into  the  masses  of 
the  fugitives.  Down  they  pressed  to  the  water's  edge,  each 
one  reckless  except  of  his  own  safety.  In  an  instant  the  boats 
.14* 


162  CALAMITIES    OF    MATAMOROS. 

were  crowded  with  a  terrified  multitude,  too  great  for  them  to 
bear,  and  many  were  forced  into  the  river  to  meet  beneath  its 
waves  the  death  from  which  they  were  fleeing. 

At  one  of  the  crossings  there  was  but  a  single  flat.  Into 
this  a  mass  of  foot-soldiers  had  rushed,  when,  before  it  pushed 
from  the  landing,  a  troop  of  cavalry,  speeding  on  in  uncon 
trollable  fear,  spurred  their  horses  aboard  and  drove  the  de 
fenceless  men  into  the  water,  where  all  sank  down,  and  most 
to  rise  no  more,  except  to  buffet  the  current  for  a  time,  vainly 
grasping  one  ,  another  in  the  agonies  of  their  final  struggle, 
Friend  knew  not  friend,  nor  brother,  brother.  For  a  moment 
the  influence  of  a  priest,  who,  in  his  robes  with  crucifix  in  hand, 
exhorted  another  band  to  patience,  checked  the  pressure  of  the 
maddened  crowd.  But  the  next,  another  troop  of  horse  swept 
down  the  bank,  and  priest  and  soldiers  driven  before  them, 
'perished  also  in  the  stream. 

Night  closed  the  pursuit,  and  with  it  the  immediate  fears  of 
the  routed  Mexicans.  But  through  all  its  watches,  they  were 
heard  still  hastening  across  the  Rio  Grande.  The  wounded, 
cruelly  sking  in  sacks  upon  the  backs  of  mules,  uttered  piteous 
groans  and  shrieks  as  they  were  borne  along,  and  many  were 
found  dead,  suffocated  by  the  water,  or  exhaustion.  Matamo- 
ros  had  been  prepared  for  the  celebration  of  a  victory.  Ball 
rooms  were  garlanded,  anfl  lamps  were  trimmed,  the  bells 
were  manned  for  merry  peals,  and  music,  and  glad  voices  and 
fond  eyes  waited  to  welcome  back  the  conquerors.  But 
through  that  dismal  night,  Matamoros  witnessed  only  scenes 
of  pain,  of  anguish,  of  rage  and  shame.  Bands  of  brutal  soldiers 
and  lawless  ruffians  roamed  about  the  streets,  while  the  panic- 
stricken  inhabitants  shut  themselves  up  in  their  homes  to  await 
what  fate  they  knew  not,  or  gathering  what  precious  goods 
their  hands  could  bear,  fled  to  the  country  to  wander  they 
knew  not  whither. 

The  day  following  the  battle  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma  was 
spent  in  collecting  and  burying  the  dead.  In  this  sacred  duty, 
friend  and  foe  shared  alike  at  the  hands  of  the  American  sol 
diers.  On  the  llth  an  exchange  of  prisoners  was  effected, 


GEN.    TAYLOR    AND    COM.    CONNER.        163 

and  Capt.  Thornton,  Capt.  Hardee,  and  their  dragoons,  who 
had  been  prisoners  since  their  surprise  and  capture  by  Torre- 
jon's  brigade,  were  again  at  liberty  among  their  victorious 
friends.  They  had  received  courteous  attention  and  kindness 
from  the  Mexicans  during  their  captivity. 

While  General  Taylor  proceeded  to  Point  Isabel  for  the  pur 
pose  of  conferring  with  Commodore  Conner,  the  army  under 
Col.  Twiggs  took  up  its  former  position  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Rio  Grande.  The  annexed  despatch  of  the  General,  in  part 
explains  his  personal  movements  from  the  day  of  the  last  bat 
tle  to  its  date. 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Point  Isabel,  Texas,  May  12,  1846. 

SIR  :  I  am  making  a  hasty  visit  to  this  place,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  having  an  interview  with  Commodore  Conner,  whose 
squadron  is  now  at  anchor  off  the  harbour,  and  arranging  with 
him  a  combined  movement  up  the  river.  I  avail  myself  of  the 
brief  time  at  my  command  to  report  that  the  main  body  of  the 
army  is  now  occupying  its  former  position  opposite  Matamo- 
ros.  The  Mexican  forces  are  almost  disorganized,  and  I  shall 
lose  no  time  in  investing  Matamoros,  and  opening  the  naviga 
tion  of  the  river. 

I  regret  to  report  that  Major  Ringgold  died  the  morning  of 
the  llth  instant,  of  the  severe  wound  received  in  the  action 
of  Palo  Alto.  With  the  exception  of  Captain  Page,  whose 
wound  is  dangerous,  the  other  wounded  officers  are  doing 
well.  In  my  report  of  the  second  engagement,  I  accidentally 
omitted  the  name  of  Lieutenant  Dobbins,  3d  infantry,  among 
the  officers  slightly  wounded,  and  desire  that  the  omission  may 
be  supplied  in  the  despatch  itself.  I  am  under  the  painful 
necessity  of  reporting  that  Lieutenant  Blake,  Topographical 
Engineers,  after  rendering  distinguished  service  in  my  staff 
during  the  affair  of  the  8th  instant,  accidentally  shot  himself 
with  a  pistol  on  the  following  day,  and  expired  before  night. 

It  has  been  quite  impossible  as  yet  to  furnish  detailed  re 
ports  of  our  engagements  with  the  enemy,  or  even  accurate 


164  GARRISON    OF    FORT    POLK. 

returns  of  the  killed  and  wounded.  Our  loss  is  not  far  from 
three  officers  and  forty  men  killed,  and  thirteen  officers  and 
one  hundred  men  wounded ;  while  that  of  the  enemy  has,  in 
all  probability,  exceeded  three  hundred  killed ;  more  than  two 
hundred  have  been  buried  by  us  on  the  two  fields  of  battle. 

1  have  exchanged  a  sufficient  number  of  prisoners  to  recover 
the  command  of  Captain  Thornton.  The  wounded  prisoners 
have  been  sent  to  Matamoros — the  wounded  officers  on  their 
parole.  General  Vega  and  a  few  other  officers  have  been  sent 
to  New  Orleans,  having  declined  a  parole,  and  will  be  reported 
to  Major  General  Gaines,  I  am  not  conversant  with  the  usages 
of  war  in  such  cases,  and  beg  that  such  provision  may  be 
made  for  these  prisoners  as  may  be  authorized  by  law.  Our 
own  prisoners  have  been  treated  with  great  kindness  by  the 
Mexican  officers. 

T  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 

Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 
The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

In  the  midst  of  the  excitement  of  preparing  for  an  attack 
on  Matamoros,  and  for  the  capture  of  the  towns  tributary  to 
it,  General  Taylor  did  not  overlook  the  firm  and  energetic 
conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  whom  he  had  left  at  Point 
Isabel  on  the  7th  of  May.  The  following  Order  recognizes 
*  their  merit. 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Fort  Polk,  Texas,  May  12,  1846. 

As  a  mark  of  respect  to  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  republic, 
the  work  concluded  at  this  place  to  cover  the  main  depot  of 
the  army  will  be  known  as  "  Fort  Polk." 

The  commanding  general  takes  this  occasion  to  express  his 
satisfaction  with  the  dispositions  made  for  the  defence  and  pro 
tection  of  this  point,  so  vitally  important  to  the  efficiency  and 
security  of  the  army.  To  Major  Munroe,  the  commanding 
officer,  Captain  Saunders,  of  the  Engineers,  Majors  Thomas 
and  McRee,  and  Captains  Sibley  and  Hill,  of  the  quartermas- 


COURTESY    TO    LA    VEGA.  165 

ter's  department,  Captain  Ramsay,  of  the  ordnance,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Montgomery,  of  the  subsistence  departments,  credit  is 
especially  due  for  their  zeal  and  activity.  The  general  returns 
his  thanks  to  the  numerous  citizens  who  volunteered  their  ser 
vices  in  defence  of  the  depot.  Their  assistance  added  mate 
rially  to  its  strength,  and  to  his  confidence  in  its  ability  to  resist 
an  attack.  The  reinforcements  from  the  brig  Lawrence,  under 
Lieutenant  Renshaw,  and  the  large  force  of  seamen  and  marines 
so  promptly  furnished  by  the  squadron  on  its  arrival,  require  a 
special  acknowledgment  to  Commodore  Conner,  and  Com 
mander  Mercer,  of  the  navy.  The  army  is  deeply  grateful 
for  this  support  and  co-operation,  from  a  kindred  branch  of  the 
public  service. 

By  order  of  Brig.  Gen.  Taylor. 

W.  W.  J.  BLISS,  Act.  Adj.  Gen. 

An  act  of  courtesy,  on  the  part  of  the  troops,  and  of  libe 
rality,  on  the  part  of  General  Taylor,  to  General  La  Vega,  may 
here  be  mentioned,  in  connection  with  the  incidents  of  that 
officer's  introduction  to  the  general,  after  his  capture  by  Cap 
tain  May.  The  account  is  furnished  by  a  correspondent  of  the 
Baltimore  Patriot. 

The  artillery  battalion  was  stationed  on  the  9th  at  the  outset 
of  the  chapparal,  and  was  then  formed  "  in  square."  This 
battalion,  which  had  suffered  the  day  before  more  than  any 
other,  except  the  8th  Infantry,  was  placed  in  this  position  for 
these  reasons :  to  protect  the  train  against  a  charge  of  the  ene 
my's  cavalry,  to  repair  any  disasters  which  might  occur  in  the 
ordnance,  and  to  afford  fresh  troops  for  the  pursuit,  when  the 
battle  was  gained. 

Colonel  Twiggs  sent  for  Colonel  Childs,  who  commanded 
it,  and  turned  the  prisoner  over  to  him  ;  but  Childs,  having 
dismounted  (General  Vega  was  on  foot),  sent  an  order  to  his 
battalion,  that  the  prisoner  should  be  received  with  the  honour 
due  his  rank.  As  soon  as  the  prisoner  issued  from  the  chap 
paral,  the  words  "Present  Arms"  were  given.  The  square 
«  presented  arms"  in  perfect  silence,  and,  as  he  approached, 


166  AID    FROM    COM.    CONNER. 

not  a  smile  of  gratification,  or  a  word  of  exultation,  was  seen 
or  heard ;  (so  much  for  the  delicacy  of  the  common  soldier,  who 
had,  perhaps,  the  day  before,  lost  his  nearest  friend  by  the  en 
emy's  cannon-shot.)  General  Vega  seemed  surprised  at  the 
salute,  courteously  and  slowly  raised  his  hat,  and  the  square 
was  brought  to  a  shoulder. 

Colonel  Childs  then  called  from  his  position  Captain  Ma- 
gruder,  who  commanded  one  of  the  companies  of  the  square. 
Captain  Magruder  had  known  General  Vega  before,  and  im 
mediately  insisted  upon  his  mounting  his  (Captain  M.'s)  horse. 
No  sooner  was  this  done,  than  it  became  necessary  for  the  bat 
talion  to  move  on,  and  Captain  Magruder  was  ordered  by 
Colonel  Childs  to  escort  -the  prisoner,  in  security,  with  a  small 
command,  to  General  Taylor.  Fortunately  no  rescue  was  at 
tempted,  as  his  command  was  very  small,  and  the  order  was 
promptly  executed,  when  General  Vega  was  introduced  on  the 
field,  by  Captain  Magruder,  to  General  Taylor.  General 
Taylor  shook  him  warmly  by  the  hand,  and  addressed  to  him 
the  following  handsome  remarks  : 

"  General :  I  do  assure  you,  I  deeply  regret  that  this  mis 
fortune  has  fallen  upon  you.  I  regret  it  sincerely,  and  I  take 
great  pleasure  in  returning  you  the  sword  which  you  have  this 
day  worn  with  so  much  gallantry,"  handing  him,  at  the  same 
time,  the  sword  which  General  Vega  had  yielded  to  Captain 
May.  General  Vega  made  a  suitable  reply  in  Spanish,  and 
was  then  taken  charge  of  by  Colonel  Twiggs,  at  the  colonel's 
own  request,  and  entertained  by  him  in  the  most  hospitable 
manner,  in  his  own  tent,  until  his  departure  for  New  Orleans. 

When  about  to  embark,  General  Taylor  handed  his  prisoner 
a  letter  of  introduction  to  General  Gaines,  and  of  credit  on  his 
own  banker,  which  secured  to  him  respectful  consideration  and 
comfort  on  his  arrival  in  the  United  States. 

Having  arranged  his  business  with  Commodore  Conner,  who 
had,  with  foresight  and  despatch,  brought  his  squadron  to  the 
support  of  Point  Isabel,  General  Taylor  started,  on  the  morn 
ing  following  the  interview,  to  return  to  the  camp  opposite 
Matamoros,  and  there  begin  offensive  operations.  On  his  way 


TAYLOR  BEFORE  MATAMOROS.     167 

Le  was  met  by  a  courier,  informing  him  that  the  enemy  was 
receiving  reinforcements  at  Matamoros,  and  were  fortifying 
points  near  the  mouth  of  the  river.  One  of  these  points  was 
Barita,  a  village  situated  on  a  high  bank.  On  hearing  this  re 
port,  General  Taylor  returned  again  to  Point  Isabel,  and  found 
there  a  small  body  of  regulars  and  volunteers  just  arrived  from 
Alabama  and  Louisiana,  the  volunteers  being  the  first  in  answer 
to  his  call  for  additional  troops.  A  command  was  immediately 
organised  under  Col.  Wilson,  consisting  of  three  hundred 
regulars,  and  three  hundred  and  fifty  volunteers,  with  orders 
to  proceed  to  Barita  and  take  possession  of  it.  The  vessels 
of  Commodore  Conner  co-operated  in  the  expedition.  Col. 
Wilson  marched  on  the  15th  for  Brazos,  and,  with  the  aid  of 
the  squadron,  crossed  the  river  at  its  mouth,  and  marched  upon 
the  town,  which  he  occupied  without  opposition  on  the  17th, 
being  the  first  landing  of  an  American  force  on  the  right  of  the 
Rio  Grande. 

The  day  before  this  expedition  left  Point  Isabel,  General 
Taylor  also  set  out  again  on  his  return  to  the  camp  on  the  river, 
where  he  speedily  arrived,  and  at  once  commenced  prepara 
tions  for  an  attack  on  Matamoros.  It  was  his  resolution  to 
bombard  the  place  if  not  surrendered  unconditionally. 

It  was  not  until  the  17th,  that  the  mortar  batteries  command 
ing  the  town  were  ready.  This  delay,  seemingly  so  little  ac 
cordant  with  Taylor's  character  for  energy  and  despatch,  was 
not  attributable  to  any  immaturity  in  his  plans,  or  any  want  of 
activity.  On  the  contrary,  he  had  in  early  season  endeavoured 
to  impress  upon  the  War  Department  the  necessity  of  supplying 
the  usual  means  of  prosecuting  a  march  in  an  enemy's  country. 
Especially  had  he  solicited  a  ponton  train  in  his  letters  of  the 
previous  year,  and  had  his  suggestions  in  that  regard  been 
complied  with,  he  might  have  instantly  pursued  the  enemy, 
after  the  victory  of  the  9th,  across  the  Rio  Grande,  have  occu 
pied  Matamoros,  and  so  totally  dispersed  Arista's  army,  that 
not  another  blow  could  have  been  struck  in  the  Northern  De 
partments  of  Mexico  bordering  the  Rio  Grande. 

The  17th  of  May,  therefore,  a  week  after  the  battles,  offered 


ARISTA  EVACUATES  MATAMOROS. 

the  first  opportunity  of  following  up  their  results.  Orders  having 
been  given  to  Colonel  Twiggs  to  cross  the  river,  General  Tay 
lor  was  waited  on  by  the  Mexican  general,  Reguena,  empow 
ered  by  General  Arista  to  treat  for  an  armistice,  until  the  two 
governments  finally  settled  the  difficulties  pending.  This  cun 
ning,  on  the  part  of  the  Mexican  chief,  was  too  apparent  to 
General  Taylor ;  he  was  aware  that  Matamoros  was  filled  with 
the  munitions  of  war,  and  time  was  only  wanted  to  move  them 
off.  General  Taylor  replied  promptly  to  General  Reguena, 
that  an  armistice  could  not  be  granted ;  he  recapitulated  the 
circumstances  of  the  preceding  month,  when  he  had  himself 
proposed  an  armistice,  which  General  Ampudia  had  declined. 
He  stated  that  he  was  receiving  large  reinforcements — that  he 
would  not  then  suspend  hostilities  which  he  had  not  invited 
nor  provoked ;  he  also  said  that  the  possession  of  Matamoros 
was  a  "  sine  qua  non,"  and  that  the  American  troops  would 
occupy  the  city,  at  the  same  time  giving  to  General  Arista  and 
his  forces  leave  to  withdraw  from  the  town,  leaving  behind  the 
public  property  of  every  description.  General  Taylor  remarked, 
that  "  Generals  Ampudia  and  Arista  had  promised  that  the  war 
should  be  conducted  agreeably  to  the  usage  of  civilized  na 
tions,  and  yet  the  Mexican  forces  had,  in  the  battles  of  the  8th 
and  9th,  stripped  our  dead  and  mutilated  their  bodies."  Ge 
neral  Reguena  replied,  that  "  the  women  and  rancheros  did  it." 
"  Then,"  said  General  Taylor,  "  I  will  come  over  to  Matamo 
ros  and  control  such  people  for  them." 

General  Reguena,  then  leaving  General  Taylor,  promised  to 
deliver  an  answer  positively  at  three  o'clock.  The  hour  arrived 
but  no  answer.  It  afterwards  appeared,  that  while  the  dele 
gation  was  treating  with  General  Taylor,  General  Arista  was 
busy  in  getting  out  of  the  city ;  that  even  the  promise  to  give 
General  Taylor  a  positive  answer  at  three  o'clock  was  a  mere 
subterfuge.  General  Arista,  taking  advantage  of  the  delay, 
succeeded  in  moving  much  of  the  military  stores,  securing  two 
or  three  pieces  of  cannon,  and  with  the  fragment  of  his  army, 
that  very  night,  abandoned  Matamoros  and  fled  precipitately 
towar4s  Monterey.  At  sundown,  General  Taylor  perceiving 


MATAMOROS    SURRENDERED. 


that  no  word  was  to  be  sent  to  him,  repaired  from  Fort  Brown 
to  join  the  army  two  miles  above  the  fort,  in  position  for 
crossing  the  Rio  Grande. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  the  east  bank  was  de 
fended  by  two  eighteen-pounders,  and  the  three  batteries  of 
our  artillery,  and  the  crossing  commenced,  Col.  Twiggs  order 
ing  the  bands  to  strike  up  Yankee  Doodle.  The  light  com 
panies  of  battalions  first  went  over,  followed  by  the  volunteer 
and  regular  infantry. 

Lieut.  Hays,  of  the  4th  infantry,  and  ten  select  men,  with 
Captain  Walker  of  the  Rangers,  first  crossed  the  river,  with 
orders  to  ascertain  and  report  the  number  and  position  of  the 
enemy,  if  near  the  river.  Immediately  after  Lieut.  Hays  had 
crossed,  the  flank  companies  of  the  3d,  4th,  and  5th  infantry, 
were  thrown  across,  commanded  by  Captain  Buchanan  and 
Captain  Lamed.  After  these  commands  had  crossed,  Captain 
Smith,  of  the  artillery  battalion,  crossed  with  two  companies, 
followed  by  Captain  Ker's  squadron  of  dragoons.  After  this 
force  had  crossed,  Ridgely's  artillery  was  dismounted  and  taken 
over  in  parts.  In  the  mean  time  the  infantry  already  over  had 
advanced,  and  occupied  the  hedge-fence  covering  the  crossing ; 
after  occupying  this  position  some  two  hours,  a  civil  deputa 
tion  from  Matamoros  presented  itself,  requesting  to  see  General 
Taylor.  The  deputation  was  sent  over  the  river,  in  charge  of 
an  officer,  to  meet  the  general  who  had  not  then  crossed.  The 
object  of  the  deputation  was  to  inform  the  commanding- general 
of  the  American  forces,  that  General  Arista  and  the  Mexican 
troops  had  abandoned  Matamoros,  together  with  his  sick  and 
wounded,  and  wishing  to  know  from  General  Taylor  what 
treatment  the  city  might  expect  from  him.  General  Taylor, 
finding  on  inquiry  that  this  report  was  true,  ordered  that  por 
tion  of  the  American  forces  that  had  not  crossed  the  river,  to 
return  to  Fort  Brown  and  cross  there.  General  Taylor  imme 
diately  despatched  a  staff-officer  to  the  prefect  to  demand  a 
surrender,  and  to  come  to  him  to  confer  on  the  subject.  Ge 
neral  Taylor  informed  the  prefect  that  the  civil  and  religious 
rights  of  the  citizens  would  be  sacredly  respected.  While  this 
15 


170         TAYLOR'S  OFFICIAL  REPORT. 

•  '  *  4  " 

-was  going  forward,  the  dragoons,  under  Captain  Ker,  passed 
below  where  they  had  landed,  and  raised  the  national  flag  upon 
the  walls  of  Fort  Paredes. 

The  different  regiments  already  on  the  west  side  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  were  marched  to  their  respective  places  of  encamp 
ment,  without  noise  or  disorder,  save  when  the  flag  of  our 
country  was  unexpectedly  seen  waving  from  Fort  Paredes. 
Discipline  then  gave  way  to  feeling,  and  nine  hearty  cheers 
rent  the  air,  and  announced  the  occupation  of  Matamoros  by 
American  troops. 

That  evening  a  small  guard  was  established  in  Matamoros 
to  keep  the  peace.  No  troops,  except  under  command  that 
night,  visited  it.  The  civil  and  religious  rights  of  the  citizens 
were  guarantied,  and  the  Matamorians  slept  secure  under  the 
protection  of  the  American  government,  a  boon  ever  denied 
to  them  by  their  own. 

But  a  single  accident  occurred  to  mar  the  proceedings  of  the 
day.  Lieut.  George  Stephens,  a  young  officer  of  high  promise, 
was  swept  by  the  current  from  his  horse  while  crossing  the 
river,  and  was  drowned.  The  details  of  the  foregoing  narra 
tive  are  taken  from  a  letter,  addressed  at  the  time  to  a  southern 
newspaper.  General  Taylor's  official  account  is  subjoined. 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
City  of  Matamoros,  May  18,  1846. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honour  to  report  that  my  very  limited  means 
of  crossing  rivers  prevented  a  complete  prosecution  of  the  vic 
tory  of  the  9th  instant.  A  ponton  train,  the  necessity  of  which 
I  exhibited  to  the  department  last  year,  would  have  enabled 
the  army  to  have  crossed  on  the  evening  of  the  battle,  take  this 
city,  with  all  the  artillery  and  stores  of  the  enemy,  and  a  great 
number  of  prisoners.  In  short,  to  destroy  entirely  the  Mexi 
can  army.  But  I  was  compelled  to  await  the  arrival  of  heavy 
mortars,  with  which  to  menace  the  town  from  the  left  bank, 
and  also  the  accumulation  of  small  boats.  In  the  mean  time, 
the  enemy  had  somewhat  recovered  from  the  confusion  of  his 
flight,  and  ought  still,  with  three  thousand  men  left  him,  to 
have  made  a  respectable  defence.  I  made  every  preparation 


TAYLOR'S  DESPATCH  CONTINUED.  171 

to  cross  the  river  above  the  town,  while  Lieut.  Col.  Wilson 
made  a  diversion  on  the  side  of  Barita,  and  the  order  of  march 
was  given  out  for  one  o'clock  yesterday,  from  the  camp  near 
Fort  Brown,  when  I  was  waited  upon  by  General  Reguena, 
empowered  by  General  Arista,  commanding-in-chief  the  Mexi 
can  forces,  to  treat  for  an  armistice  until  the  government  should 
finally  settle  the  question.  I  replied  to  this,  that  an  armistice 
was  out  of  the  question ;  that  a  month  since  I  had  proposed 
one  to  General  Ampudia,  which  was  declined ;  that  circum 
stances  were  now  changed ;  that  I  was  receiving  large  reinforce 
ments,  and  could  not  now  suspend  operations  which  I  had  not 
invited  or  provoked  ;  that  the  possession  of  Matamoros  was  a 
sine  qua  non ;  that  our  troops  would  occupy  the  town  ;  but  that 
General  Arista  might  withdraw  his  forces,  leaving  the  public 
property  of  every  description. 

An  answer  to  the  above  was  promised  in  the  afternoon,  but 
none  came ;  and  I  repaired  at  sundown  to  join  the  army,  al 
ready  in  position  at  a  crossing  some  two  miles  above  the  town. 
Very  early  this  morning  the  bank  was  occupied  by  two  eighteen- 
pounders  and  three  batteries  of  field  artillery,  and  the  crossing 
commenced :  the  light  companies  of  all  the  battalions  were  first 
thrown  over,  followed  by  the  volunteer  and  regular  cavalry. 
No  resistance  was  made,  and  I  was  soon  informed  from  various 
quarters  that  Arista  had  abandoned  the  town,  with  all  his  troops, 
the  evening  before,  leaving  only  the  sick  and  wounded.  I  im 
mediately  despatched  a  staff-officer  to  the  prefect  to  demand  a 
surrender;  and,  in  the  mean  time,  a  commission  was  sent  by 
the  prefect  to  confer  with  me  on  the  same  point.  I  gave  as 
surance  that  the  civil  rights  of  the  citizens  would  be  respected, 
and  our  troops  at  once  dropped  down  opposite  the  town,  and 
crossed  at  the  "  Upper  Ferry,"  the  American  flag  being  dis 
played  at  Fort  Paredes,  a  Mexican  redout  near  the  crossing. 
The  different  corps  now  encamped  in  the  outskirts  of  the  city. 
To-morrow  I  shall  make  suitable  arrangements  for  the  occupa 
tion  of  the  town,  and  for  taking  possession  of  the  public  pro 
perty.  More  than  three  hundred  of  the  enemy's  wounded 


172   QUARTERS  AROUND  MATAMOROS. 

have  been  left  in  the  hospitals.    Arista  is  in  full  retreat  towards 
Monterey,  with  the  fragments  of  his  army. 

I  deeply  regret  to  report  that  Lieut.  George  Stevens,  a  very 
promising  young  officer,  of  the  2d  dragoons,  was  accidentally 
drowned  this  morning  while  attempting  to  swim  the  river  with 
his  squadron. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Thus,  on  the  18th  of  May,  General  Taylor  had  firmly 
planted  the  American  flag  on  the  battlements  of  a  Mexican 
city.  In  fulfilling  his  professional  duty,  he  was  scrupulous  in 
every  precaution  against  the  evils  almost  inseparable  from 
hostile  invasion.  The  persons  and  property  of  the  people 
of  Matamoros  and  its  vicinity  were  rigidly  protected.  The 
American  troops  were  distributed  in  the  suburbs,  only  a  guard 
being  allowed  in  the  city.  Colonel  Twiggs  was  appointed 
«  Governor,"  his  command  being  stationed  above  the  town, 
on  the  river  bank.  That  of  General  Worth — who,  after  a  tem 
porary  absence,  had  again  joined  the  army — was  posted  below. 
Fort  Brown  was  garrisoned,  and  the  seventh  regiment  encamped 
beneath  its  walls.  General  Taylor  camped  out,  establishing 
his  head-quarters  where  a  few  trees  aided  the  shade  of  the 
canvass. 

Arista,  with  the  remnant  of  his  army,  still  more  than  equal 
to  his  conquerors  in  numbers,  having  commenced  his  retreat 
from  the  city,  while  the  parley  with  Taylor  was  proceeding, 
continued  to  hasten  up  the  river,  in  the  direction  of  Camargo. 
Upon  evacuating  Matamoros,  he  made  the  following  rather  frank 
report  to  his  superior  in  command  of  the  District.  The  docu 
ment  is  dated  from  "  the  Rancho  de  la  Venada,  May  18. 

"  Division  of  the  North — Commander-in- Chief — All  the 
means  of  subsistence  of  this  division  being  consumed,  its 
activity  paralyzed,  and  its  artillery  diminished,  wrhile  that  of  the 
enemy  has  been  greatly  increased  in  the  number  of  pieces  and 


m,  «£*&**.  -,„   ri;a    JA  :*t .;«***.*  . ~  , 

ANECDOTE     OF    AMPUDIA.  173 

the  calibre  of  his  guns,  in  such  a  manner  that,  were  he  to  open 
his  fire,  the  city  of  Matamoros  would  be  instantly  destroyed, 
to  the  utter  ruin  of  national  and  foreign  interests,  I  have  de 
cided  to  retire  from  it,  with  the  forces  under  my  command, 
before  being  summoned,  and  obliged  to  evacuate  it  with 
dishonour,  which  I  shall  thus  avoid  :  for  the  march  is  slow, 
our  pieces  being  drawn  by  oxen,  and  our  munitions  in  carts. 
My  object  now  is  to  defend  the  soil  of  those  departments 
which  have  been  entrusted  to  me ;  and,  for  that  purpose,  I  am 
going  to  post  myself  at  those  points  most  convenient,  and 
within  reach  of  supplies,  of  which  I  will  hereafter  inform  your 
highness,  though  your  communications  must  seek  me  by  the 
road  of  China,  or  that  of  Linares.  The  step  to  which  I  have 
referred  has  saved  the  national  honour  ;  and  I  communicate  it 
to  your  highness  for  your  information,  recommending  you  to 
secure  the  camp  equipage,  placing  it  in  a  convenient  point, 
and  preserving  the  sixteen  pounders  in  that  city,  to  which, 
moreover,  I  will  order  a  reinforcement." 

The  retreat  of  Arista  commenced  in  good  order.  A  news 
paper  of  the  day  supplies  an  anecdote  connected  with  the  pur 
suit  which  proves — if  proof  were  wanting — how  systematic  was 
the  deception  practised  upon  the  simple-minded  Mexicans,  by 
their  military  officers,  regarding  their  own  prowess  and  success 
in  the  field.  The  day  following  the  occupation  of  Matamoros, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Garland,  with  all  the  regular  and  irregular 
cavalry  of  the  army,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  dragoons  and 
rangers,  started  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating  Mexicans,  with 
orders  to  harass  their  rear,  and  to  capture  prisoners  and  bag 
gage.  On  the  22d,  Colonel  Garland  returned  from  his  pursuit. 
He  succeeded  in  capturing  a  small  rear  party,  after  a  slight 
show  of  resistance  on  their  part,  in  which  two  Mexicans  were 
killed,  twenty-two  taken  prisoners,  and  one  wagon  with  am 
munition  and  clothing  of  an  artillery  company  captured.  Two 
of  our  own  troops  were  slightly  wounded.  The  scarcity  of 
water,  the  barrenness  of  the  country,  and  the  condition  of  the 
horses,  compelled  Colonel  Garland  to  return  to  Matamoros, 
15* 


174    ARISTA'S  APPEAL  TO  AMERICANS. 

after  having  penetrated  over  sixty  miles  into  the  enemy's 
country. 

The  army  of  the  Mexicans,  under  General  Arista,  was  but 
twenty-four  hours  ahead  of  our  cavalry,  retreating  in  good 
order — our  officers  stopping  at  the  ranches  where  the  enemy 
had,  the  night  previous.  A  ranchero,  at  one  of  these  stopping 
places,  inquired  with  great  simplicity  of  Captain  Graham, 
where  the  Americans  were  going.  He  was  told  in  pursuit  of 
the  retreating  Mexican  army.  "Retreating  army!"  said  the 
fellow  with  astonishment ;  "  why,  General  Ampudia  stopped 
at  my  house  last  night,  and  said  that  his  troops  had  conquered 
the  Americans,  and  that  he  was  now  on  his  way  to  Mexico  to 
take  the  news."  The  man  was  confounded,  for  it  was  impos 
sible  for  him  to  believe  his  nation  had  been  whipped  in  battle, 
and  still  more  incomprehensible,  that  a  small  number  of  Ameri 
can  dragoons  should  seriously,  and  for  purposes  of  war,  really 
drive  before  them  over  three  thousand  troops. 

To  these  painful  and  humiliating  misrepresentations  were  the 
Mexican  commanders  driven,  in  order  to  secure  respect  and 
ordinary  hospitality  from  their  own  countrymen.  It  affords  a 
painful  contrast  with  their  boasts  before  they  had  been  tested  in 
the  field.  Among  the  papers  found  in  Arista's  tent  on  the  field 
of  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  was  the  following,  addressed  to  Ameri 
can  soldiers,  and  designed  to  have  been  distributed  among 
them.  How  little  could  its  author  have  known  his  enemies! 
How  little  of  the  true  means  by  which  such  enemies  are  over 
come  ! 

"  Head-Quarters  at  Matamoros. 
April  26,  1846. 

"  SOLDIERS  ! — You  have  enlisted  in  time  of  peace  to  serve 
in  that  army  for  a  specific  term ;  but  your  obligation  never  im 
plied  that  you  were  bound  to  violate  the  laws  of  God,  and 
the  most  sacred  rights  of  friends !  The  United  States  govern 
ment,  contrary  to  the  wishes  of  a  majority  of  all  honest  and 
honourable  Americans,  has  ordered  you  to  take  forcible  pos 
session  of  the  territory  of  a  friendly  neighbour,  who  has  never 
given  her  consent  to  such  occupation.  In  other  words,  while 


INDUCEMENTS    TO    DESERTERS.  175 

the  treaty  of  peace  and  commerce  between  Mexico  and  the 
United  States,  presuming  on  her  strength  and  prosperity,  and 
on  our  supposed  imbecility  and  cowardice,  attempts  to  make 
you  the  blind  instruments  of  her  unholy  and  mad  ambition, 
and  force,  you  to  appear  as  the  hateful  robbers  of  our  dear 
homes,  and  the  unprovoked  violators  of  our  dearest  feelings 
as  men  and  patriots.  Such  villany  and  outrage,  I  know,  is 
perfectly  repugnant  to  the  noble  sentiments  of  any  gentleman, 
and  it  is  base  and  foul  to  rush  you  on  to  certain  death,  in  order 
to  aggrandize  a  few  lawless  individuals,  in  defiance  of  the  laws 
of  God  and  man! 

"  It  is  to  no  purpose  if  they  tell  you,  that  the  law  of  the  an 
nexation  of  Texas  justifies  your  occupation  of  the  Rio  Bravo 
del  Norte ;  for  by  this  act  they  rob  us  of  a  great  part  of  Ta- 
maulipas,  Coahuili,  Chihuahua,  and  New  Mexico;  and  it  is 
barbarous  to  send  a  handful  of  men  on  such  an  errand  against 
a  powerful  and  warlike  nation.  Besides,  the  most  of  you  are 
Europeans,  and  we  are  the  declared  friends  of  a  majority  of 
the  nations  of  Europe.  The  North  Americans  are  ambitious, 
overbearing,  and  insolent  as  a  nation,  and  they  will  only  make 
use  of  you  as  vile  tools  to  carry  out  their  abominable  plans  of 
pillage  and  rapine. 

"  I  warn  you  in  the  name  of  justice,  honour,  and  your  own 
interests  and  self-respect,  to  abandon  their  desperate  and  un 
holy  cause,  and  become  peaceful  Mexican  citizens.  I  guaranty 
you,  in  such  case,  a  half  section  of  land,  or  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  to  settle  upon,  gratis.  Be  wise,  then,  and  just, 
and  honourable,  and  take  no  part  in  murdering  us  who  have 
no  unkind  feelings  for  you.  Lands  shall  be  given  to  officers, 
Serjeants,  and  corporals,  according  to  rank,  privates  receiving 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  as  stated. 

"If  in  time  of  action  you  wish  to  espouse  our  cause,  throw 
away  your  arms  and  run  to  us,  and  we  will  embrace  you  as 
true  friends  and  Christians.  It  is  not  decent  nor  prudent  to 
say  more.  But  should  any  of  you  render  important  service  to 
Mexico,  you  shall  be  accordingly  considered  and  preferred." 


176  RESULT  OF  TAYLOR'S  SUCCESSES. 

Arista  continued  his  retreat  to  the  interior,  his  unfortunate 
troops  suffering  privations  more  trying  than  the  toil  and  danger 
of  battle.  Provisions  and  water  were  scarce,  and  hastening  on 
in  fear  of  their  victorious  pursuers,  the  fatigue  of  forced  marches 
added  to  their  calamities.  Under  these  circumstances  his  army 
became  completely  demoralized.  A  great  portion  of  it  de 
serted,  returning  home,  or  forming  marauding  parties,  of  which 
their  own  countrymen  were  the  victims.  It  was  near  the  end 
of  May,  when  Arista,  with  his  shattered  columns,  reached  the 
hacienda  of  Coma,  upwards  of  a  hundred  miles  from  Mata- 
moros.  His  force  had  been,  at  the  outset,  sufficiently  strong 
to  enable  him  to  leave  detachments  so  posted  as  to  prevent  the 
Americans  from  communicating  with  the  interior.  From  Coma, 
where  he  halted  for  repose  when  no  longer  pursued,  he  re 
sumed  his  march  and  reached  Monterey.  Subsequently  he  was 
removed  from  his  command,  and  ordered  to  Mexico  to  answer 
for  his  misconduct,  or  misfortunes,  before  a  court-martial. 

Thus,  freed  from  the  presence  of  an  enemy,  and  absolute 
master  of  the  enemy's  country  in  the  entire  region  where  he 
had  first  met  with  opposition,  General  Taylor  was  obliged  to 
await  further  instructions  from  the  government,  and  the  arrival 
of  new  troops  and  means  of  advance,  before  he  could  duly 
prosecute  the  advantages  he  had  gained.  His  labours  for 
nearly  two  months  had  been  various  and  incessant,  taxing  to 
an  extreme  both  mind  and  body.  At  the  end  of  March  he  had 
left  the  northern  side  of  the  Nueces,  with  an  army  apparently 
insufficient  for  any  successful  demonstration  against  an  enemy 
disposed  to  resist  it.  Before  the  end  of  June,  he  found  him 
self  on  the  southern  side  of  the  Rio  Grande,  having  annihilated 
all  opposition  to  his  presence.  The  occupation  of  that  ground 
defines  the  first  period  of  his  brilliant  operations  in  Mexico. 


WAR  RECOGNIZED  BY  CONGRESS.   177 


CHAPTER  X. 

War  recognized  by  Congress — Men  and  Money  voted — General  Taylor  em 
barrassed — Inadequate  means  of  advancing — Letter  to  the  Department- 
Difficulties  and  Wants  explained — Further  correspondence — Suggestions  re 
garding  his  advance — Letter  from  the  Secretary  of  War — Taylor  recom 
mended  to  advance  on  Monterey — His  Views  on  the  Campaign  requested — 
Continued  Difficulties — Further  despatches — Arrival  of  Volunteers — Causes 
of  Inactivity  explained — Minor  Expeditions — More  Troops— Letter  from  Gen 
eral  Scott — News  of  Taylor's  Victories  reaches  the  United  States — Popular 
Enthusiasm — Created  Brigadier  General  by  Brevet — President's  Letter — 
Thanks  voted  by  Louisiana  Legislature — Deputation  to  Taylor — His  Speech 
to  the  Committee — Made  a  full  Major  General  by  Congress — Correspondence 
—Taylor's  Views  of  future  Operations — Camargo  taken — Despatches. 

THE  President  of  the  United  States  announced  to  Congress, 
on  the  llth  of  May,  1846,  that  hostilities  had  been  actually 
commenced  by  Mexico.  Two  days  afterwards,  an  act  was 
passed  by  Congress,  the  preamble  of  which  declared  a  state  of 
war  to  exist,  "  by  the  act  of  the  republic  of  Mexico,"  and  the 
first  section  of  which  appropriated  ten  millions  of  dollars,  and 
empowered  the  President  to  accept  the  services  of  fifty  thousand 
volunteers,  for  the  army.  The  action  of  Congress  in  thus 
voting  men  and  money  was  prompt  and  unanimous,  although 
the  assertion  quoted  from  the  preamble,  that  the  war  was  the 
act  of  Mexico,  met  with  earnest  opposition.  Authorized  by 
Congress,  the  President  immediately  issued  a  proclamation  in 
voking  the  nation  to  sustain  the  measures  necessary  to  secure 
a  peace. 

General  Taylor,  who,  when  the  enemy  yet  untired  in  battle 
was  in  full  force,  had  been  embarrassed  for  the  want  of  troops 
sufficient  to  ensure  the  safety  of  two  posts,  now  began  to  find 
himself,  when  no  enemy  was  near,  equally  embarrassed  by  the 
prospect  of  reinforcements  too  numerous  for  any  operation 
which  he  then  had  in  view.  His  call  upon  the  governor  of 
Louisiana  for  four  regiments  had  met  an  instant  and  patriotic 
response — and  other  states,  as  well  as  this,  were  anxious  to 
recruit  for  the  service.  The  predicament  menaced  by  this  over- 


178      VOLUNTEERS    WITHOUT    SUPPLIES. 

flow  of  men,  unaccompanied  with  the  means  of  subsistence  or 
transportation,  is  partially  set  forth  in  a  despatch  dated  the 
20th  of  May,  addressed  to  the  Adjutant  General,  in  which  he 
remarks : 

"  On  the  26th  of  April,  I  had  occasion  to  advise  the  Depart 
ment  that  hostilities  had  actually  broken  out,  and  that,  in  con 
sequence,  I  had  found  it  necessary  to  use  the  authority  with 
which  I  was  vested,  and  call  upon  the  governors  of  Louisiana 
and  Texas  for  a  force,  each,  of  four  regiments.  The  eight 
regiments  thus  called  for  would  make  a  force  of  nearly  five 
thousand  men,  which  I  deemed  sufficient  to  meet  the  wants  of 
the  service  in  this  quarter.  At  the  same  time  that  I  wrote  to 
the  governor  of  Louisiana  requesting  this  volunteer  force,  I  ad 
dressed  a  letter  to  General  Gaines,  desiring  him  to  assist  in  or 
ganizing  these  regiments,  and  having  them  promptly  supplied. 
In  my  communication  to  the  governor,  the  organization  was 
very  exactly  prescribed,  being  that  indicated  from  your  office 
on  the  25th  of  August,  1845.  I  find,  however,  that  the  orga 
nization  has  been  exceeded,  and,  moreover,  that  General 
Gaines  has  called  for  many  more  volunteers  than  I  deemed  ne 
cessary,  extending  the  call  to  other  states  besides  Louisiana. 

It  will,  of  course,  be  for  the  government  to  decide  whether 
the  future  operations  in  this  quarter  will  require  the  amount  of 
force  (entirely  unknown)  which  is  coming  hither.  I  only  de 
sire  to  say,  that  this  reinforcement,  beyond  the  eight  regiments 
mentioned  above,  was  never  asked  for  by  me,  and  that  in 
making  the  call  of  the  26th  of  April,  I  well  knew  that  if  the 
Mexicans  fought  us  at  all,  it  would  be  before  the  arrival  of  the 
volunteers.  It  was  for  the  purpose  of  clearing  the  river,  and 
performing  such  further  service  as  the  government  might  direct, 
that  I  thought  it  proper  to  ask  for  reinforcements.  It  is  ex 
tremely  doubtful  whether  the  foot  regiments  from  Texas  can  be 
raised,  and  I  shall  desire  the  Governor,  who  is  expected  here, 
to  suspend  the  call  for  them.  None  of  the  mounted  compa 
nies,  except  Captain  Price's,  already  in  service,  have  reported 
to  me. 

I  fear  that  the  volunteers  have  exhausted  the  supply  of  tents 


OPINION    RESPECTING    OPERATIONS.   179 

deposited  in  New  Orleans  for  the  use  of  this  army.  We  are 
greatly  in  \vant  of  them ;  and  I  must  request  that  immediate 
measures  be  taken  to  send  direct  to  Brazos  Santiago,  say  one 
thousand  tents,  for  the  use  of  the  army  in  the  field.  The  tents 
of  the  7th  infantry  were  cut  up  to  make  sand-bags  during  the 
recent  bombardment  of  Fort  Brown." 

His  position  was  further  explained  in  a  letter  dated  the  21st 
of  May,  in  which  he  remarks : 

"Our  future  movements  must  depend,  in  a  great  degree,  on 
the  extent  to  which  the  Rio  Grande  is  navigable  for  steamboats, 
and  I  fear  that  my  expectations  in  this  particular  will  not  be 
realized.  Though  at  times  navigable  as  high  as  Camargo,  or 
even  Mier,  it  is  doubtful  whether  a  boat  can  now  be  pushed 
higher  than  Reynosa.  Indeed,  the  'Neva,'  which  is  in  the 
river,  and  accompanied  the  expedition  under  General  Smith, 
has  not  yet  reached  this  place,  though  hourly  expected.  Could 
we  establish  and  keep  up  by  water  a  depot  at  Camargo,  opera 
tions  might  be  carried  on  in  the  valley  of  the  San  Juan  toward 
Monterey,  the  first  city  of  importance  in  that  direction.  A 
direct  movement  from  this  point  to  Monterey  would  require 
vast  transportation,  chiefly  by  pack-mules,  and  would,  more 
over,  be  hazardous  in  summer,  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of 
water,  part  of  the  route  being  supplied  by  wells  only.  The 
country  between  this  and  Monterey,  by  whatever  route,  cannot 
support  an  army. 

"  I  shall  lose  no  time  in  ascertaining  the  practicability  of  the 
river  for  steamboats,  and  shall  occupy  Reynosa,  and  such  other 
points  as  a  boat  may  be  able  to  reach." 

We  find  that  General  Taylor  continued  to  represent  to  the 
Department  the  inadequacy  of  his  means  to  transport  troops 
up  the  river,  and  to  take  a  candid  exception  to  the  number  of 
them  unexpectedly  pressed  upon  him.  His  military  character 
demands  that  his  frequent  expositions  of  the  embarrassments 
produced  by  these  circumstances  should  be  set  forth  in  his  own 
language.  He  addressed  the  Department  as  follows  on  the  3d 
of  June : 

"  I  respectfully  enclose  herewith  a  field  return  of  the  forces 


180  POLICY    OF    THE     ENEMY. 

in  and  near  Matamoros,  both  regular  and  volunteer.  The 
corps  known  to  have  arrived  at  Point  Isabel,  of  which  no  re 
turns  have  yet  been  received,  will  carry  the  entire  force  under 
my  orders  to  nearly  eight  thousand  men. 

"  I  am  necessarily  detained  at  this  point  for  want  of  suitable 
transportation  to  carry  on  offensive  operations.  There  is  not 
a  steamboat  at  my  command  proper  for  the  navigation  of  the 
Rio  Grande ;  and  without  water  transportation,  I  consider  it 
useless  to  attempt  any  extensive  movement.  Measures  have 
been  taken  to  procure  boats  of  suitable  draught  and  descrip 
tion,  and  one  or  two  may  now  be  expected.  In  the  mean 
time,  I  propose  to  push  a  battalion  of  infantry  as  far  as  Rey- 
nosa,  and  occupy  that  town.  For  any  operations  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Monterey,  it  will  be  necessary  to  establish  a  large 
depot  at  Camargo,  which  I  shall  lose  no  time  in  doing  as  soon 
as  proper  transports  arrive,  unless  I  receive  counter-instructions 
from  the  Department. 

"I  trust  the  Department  will  see  that  I  could  not  possibly 
have  anticipated  the  arrival  of  such  heavy  reinforcements  from 
Louisiana  as  are  now  here,  and  on  their  way  hither.  Without 
large  means  of  transportation,  this  force  will  embarrass,  rather 
than  facilitate  our  operations.  I  cannot  doubt  that  the  Depart 
ment  has  already  given  instructions,  based  upon  the  change  in 
our  position  since  my  first  call  for  volunteers. 

"  Our  last  accounts  of  Arista  represent  his  force  to  be  halted 
at  Coma,  an  extensive  hacienda  on  the  Monterey  road,  about 
one  hundred  miles  from  this  point.  He  has  pickets  covering 
the  roads  leading  to  Matamoros,  with  a  view  to  cut  off  all  com 
munication  with  the  interior.  The  Departmental  authorities 
have  issued  a  decree  denouncing  as  traitors  all  who  hold  inter 
course  with  us,  or  with  those  who  do  so.  I  am,  nevertheless, 
disposed  to  believe  that  in  some  quarters,  at  least,  our  presence 
is  not  unfavourably  viewed.  We  have  no  intelligence  from 
the  city  of  Mexico. 

"  Ordnance  stores,  and  other  munitions  of  war,  are  continually 
discovered  in  the  town.  Five  pieces  of  cannon,  and  a  very 


LETTER    FROM    THE    W  A  R    D  E  P  A  R  T  M  E  N  T.  181 

large  amount  of  balls,  shells,  and  ammunition  generally,  have 
been  brought  to  light." 

The  uncertainty  of  Taylor's  future  movements,  and  the  mode 
of  prosecuting  the  war,  generally  seem  to  have  been  shared 
by  the  Department  at  home.  This  is  shown  in  a  letter,  dated 
the  8th  of  June,  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to  General  Taylor, 
of  which  the  following  is  part: 

"  In  my  letter  of  the  28th  ultimo,  you  were  left  to  your  own 
discretion  and  judgment  as  to  the  measures  to  be  pursued  be 
fore  the  end  of  the  unfavourable  season  shall  be  passed,  and  it 
is  not  now  intended  to  control  that  discretion.  You  best  know 
what  amount  of  force  you  will  have  under  your  command,  and 
what  can  be  best  accomplished  with  that  force. 

"  It  is  presumed  you  will  hold  both  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande 
to  a  considerable  distance  from  its  mouth,  and  secure  the  un 
interrupted  use  of  that  river  for  the  transportation  of  supplies. 
I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  take  and  hold  in  possession  all  places 
on  it  as  high  up  as  Laredo. 

"  It  is  proper  that  I  should  advise  you  that  a  considerable 
force,  which  will  be  also  under  your  command,  will  soon  as 
semble  at  San  Antonio  de  Bexar.  The  ultimate  destination  of 
this  force  is  Chihuahua,  if  it  should  be  determined  that  such 
an  expedition  would  have  a  favourable  operation  in  the  conduct 
of  the  war;  but  it  might  be  at  once  used  to  take  and  secure 
the  several  places  on  the  Rio  Grande.  Though  we  have  no 
despatch  from  you  since  those  giving  an  account  of  the  battles 
on  the  8th  and  9th  of  May,  we  have  such  information  as  in 
duces  the  belief  that  you  are  in  possession  of  Matamoros,  and 
that  you  are  not  now  threatened  with  any  considerable  Mexi 
can  force.  It  is  desirable  that  you  should  find  yourself  in  suf 
ficient  strength  to  capture  and  hold  Monterey  with  your  present 
force.  You  are  apprised  that  large  reinforcements  are  preparing 
to  join  you.  Besides  the  regular  forces  now  under  your  com 
mand,  and  which  will  be  speedily  augmented,  you  will  soon 
have  nearly  twenty  thousand  volunteers,  (including  those  to 
rendezvous  at  San  Antonio  de  Bexar,)  who  are  to  serve  for 
one  year.  Your  determination  as  to  immediate  movements 
16 


182    REINFORCEMENTS    OF    VOLUNTEERS. 

will,  therefore,  be  somewhat  influenced  by  the  consideration 
of  the  additional  force  which  will  soon  join  you. 

"  The  President  is  desirous  of  receiving,  and  hopes  soon  to 
be  favoured  with,  your  views  and  suggestions  in  relation  to  the 
fall  campaign.  His  determination  is  to  have  the  war  prosecuted 
with  vigour,  and  to  embrace  in  the  objects  to  be  compassed  in 
that  campaign,  such  as  will  dispose  the  enemy  to  desire  an  end 
of  the  war.  Shall  the  campaign  be  conducted  with  the  view 
of  striking  at  the  city  of  Mexico,  or  confined,  so  far  as  regards 
the  forces  under  your  immediate  command,  to  the  northern 
provinces  of  Mexico?  Your  views  on  this  point  will,  doubt 
less,  have  an  important  influence  upon  the  determination  of  the 
Government  here.  Should  our  army  penetrate  far  into  the  in 
terior  of  Mexico,  how  are  supplies  to  be  obtained  ?  Can  they 
be,  to  any  considerable  extent,  drawn  from  the  enemy's  coun 
try,  or  must  they  be  obtained  from  the  United  States  ?  If  the 
latter,  what  are  the  facilities  and  difficulties  of  transportation  ? 
These  are  very  important  questions,  and  the  answers  to  them 
will  have  an  essential  bearing  in  settling  the  plan  and  objects 
of  the  campaign ;  and  it  is  desired  that  you  should  express 
your  views  fully  in  regard  to  them. 

"  Again :  it  is  important  to  know  your  opinion  of  the  de 
scription  of  troops  best  adapted  to  operations  in  the  interior  of 
Mexico ;  what  proportion  should  be  infantry,  artillery,  and 
cavalry,  £c.  A  peace  must  be  conquered  in  the  shortest  space 
of  time  practicable.  Your  views  of  the  manner  of  doing  it 
are  requested.  It  is  not  doubted  that  you  will  push  your  ad 
vantages  to  the  utmost  extent  it  can  be  done,  with  the  means 
at  your  command." 

Before  the  receipt  of  this  letter  Taylor  continued  to  have 
constant  accessions  to  his  force,  increasing  it  to  an  unwieldy 
bulk  for  the  plans  which  he  contemplated.  For  this  he  was 
not  responsible.  His  requisition  for  troops  had  been  explicit ; 
eight  regiments,  and  no  more,  were  called  for.  At  the  same 
time  he  had  urged  the  supply  of  all  the  materials  of  an  invad 
ing  army.  But  while  he  was  flooded  with  men,  he  was  kept 
comparatively  inactive  for  the  .want  of  supplies  commensurate 


TAYLOR    EXPLAINS    HIS    INACTIVITY.   183 

with  his  main  undertaking.  His  own  correspondence  satisfac 
torily  proves  that  the  means  at  his  disposal  were  inadequate  to 
purposes  which  he  was  expected  to  accomplish.  Two  letters 
may  be  cited  as  further  examples.  Addressing  the  Adjutant 
General  of  the  Army  on  the  10th  of  June,  he  said : 

"  I  beg  leave  earnestly  to  invite  the  attention  of  the  Depart 
ment  to  the  following  points  : 

"First.  The  great  influx  of  volunteers  at  Point  Isabel.  Five 
regiments  certainly  from  Louisiana,  numbering,  say  3600  men  ; 
two  regiments  or  battalions  from  Louisville  and  St.  Louis, 
numbering,  say  1200  more  ;  several  companies  from  Alabama, 
and  I  know  not  how  many  from  Texas ;  the  latter  now  begin 
ning  to  arrive.  The  volunteer  troops,  now  under  my  orders, 
amount  to  nearly  6000  men.  How  far  they  may  be  increased 
without  previous  notification  to  me,  it  is  impossible  to  tell. 

"  Secondly.  The  entire  want  of  the  proper  kind  of  transporta 
tion  to  push  my  operations  up  the  river.  The  boats  on  which 
I  depended  for  this  service  were  found  to  be  nearly  destroyed 
by  worms,  and  entirely  unfit  for  the  navigation  of  the  river. 
At  my  instance,  Major  Thomas,  on  the  18th  of  May,  required 
from  Lieut.  Col.  Hunt  a  boat  of  the  proper  description,  and 
followed  it  up  in  a  few  days  by  a  requisition  for  another.  At 
the  last  dates  from  New  Orleans  no  boat  had  been  procured. 
Captain  Sanders,  of  the  engineers,  was  despatched  by  me  to 
New  Orleans,  to  assist  in  procuring  suitable  boats,  but  I  have 
yet  received  no  report  from  him.  ,,;f 

«  As  I  have  previously  reported,  my  operations  are  completely 
paralyzed  by  the  want  of  suitable  steamboats  to  navigate  the 
Rio  Grande.  Since  the  18th  of  May,  the  army  has  lain  in 
camp  near  this  place  continually  receiving  heavy  reinforcements 
of  men,  but  no  facility  for  water  transport,  without  which  addi 
tional  numbers  are  but  an  embarrassment. 

"  I  desire  to  place  myself  right  in  this  matter,  and  to  let  the 
Department  see  that  the  inactivity  of  the  army  results  from  no 
neglect  of  mine.  I  must  express  my  astonishment  that  such 
large  reinforcements  have  been  sent  forward  to  join  the  army, 


184   COMPLAINS  OF  EMBARRASSMENT. 

.v  a  . 

without  being  accompanied  by  the  means  of  transportation, 
both  by  land  and  water,  to  render  them  efficient.  As  matters 
now  stand,  whatever  may  be  the  expectations  of  the  Depart 
ment,  I  cannot  move  from  this  place ;  and  unless  Captain  San 
ders  shall  succeed  in  procuring  boats  of  the  proper  kind,  I  can 
give  no  assurance  in  regard  to  future  operations." 

This  language  is  sufficiently  explicit  and  emphatic,  exhibit 
ing  General  Taylor's  determination  not  to  be  held  responsible 
for  the  delays  in  the  movements  of  the  army.  Again,  on  the 
17th  of  June,  he  wrote  to  the  Adjutant  General,  and  after  re 
marking  that  he  had  received  no  advices  since  the  10th, 
says: 

"  No  steamboats  have  been  sent  out  from  New  Orleans  for  the 
navigation  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  in  the  absence  of  all  infor 
mation  on  that  point,  or  respecting  the  views  of  the  govern 
ment,  I  am  altogether  in  the  dark  as  to  our  future  operations. 
I  must  think  that  orders  have  been  given,  by  superior  authority, 
to  suspend  the  forwarding  of  means  of  transportation  from  New 
Orleans.  I  cannot  otherwise  account  for  the  extraordinary 
delay  shown  by  the  Quartermaster's  Department  in  that  city. 
Even  the  mails,  containing  probably  important  despatches  from 
the  government,  are  not  expedited. 

"  Lieutenant  Colonel  Wilson  has  occupied  Reynosa  without 
opposition.  "What  remains  of  the  Mexican  army  is  understood 
to  be  still  at  Linares,  and  has  suffered  from  disease.  General 
Torrejon  has  died,  and  Colonel  Carasco,  at  last  advices,  was 
very  ill.  I  learn  that  Generals  Arista  and  Ampudia  have  gone 
to  Mexico,  probably  for  the  trial  of  the  former,  or  both. 

"  Volunteer  regiments  have  arrived  from  Louisville  and  St. 
Louis,  making,  with  those  from  Louisiana,  eight  strong  and 
^organized  battalions — mustering  over  5000  men. 

"  In  addition,  we  have  seven  companies  of  Alabama  volun 
teers,  and  twelve  or  fifteen  companies  from  Texas.  Others 
from  Texas  are  continually  arriving.  A  portion  of  these  volun 
teers  has  been  lying  in  camp  at  this  place  for  nearly  a  month, 
completely  paralyzed  by  the  want  of  transportation.  Exposed 


LETTER  FROM  GENERAL  SCOTT.    185 

as  they  are  in  this  climate  to  diseases  of  the  camp,  and  without 
any  prospect,  so  far  as  I  can  see,  of  being  usefully  employed, 
I  must  recommend  that  they  be  allowed  to  return  to  their 
homes. 

"  I  have  despatched  Captain  McCulloch,  a  good  partisan  offi 
cer,  in  the  direction  of  Linares,  with  his  company,  to  gain  in 
formation  touching  the  numbers  and  position  of  the  enemy, 
and  the  resources  of  the  country." 

It  is  proper  to  remark,  with  regard  to  the  expression  in  the 
letter  of  the  10th  of  June,  touching  the  increase  of  the  volunteer 
force  without  notification  to  General  Taylor,  that  notification 
had  been  forwarded  by  the  Department  of  all  the  volunteers 
called  out  by  its  order.  The  excess  was  under  the  order  of 
General  Gaines.  On  the  12th  of  June,  General  Scott  had 
written  to  General  Taylor : 

"  Recruits  to  fill  up  the  ranks  of  the  regular  companies 
which  are  with  you,  or  ordered  to  join  you,  to  (say)  about 
seventy  men  each,  shall  be  sent  forward  as  fast  as  practicable, 
so  as  to  give  you,  we  hope,  in  a  short  time,  a  total  force  of 
about  23,070  men. 

"  Without  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  that  amount  of  force, 
but  before,  and  as  soon  as  you  shall  deem  it  safe  in  respect  to 
the  relative  numbers  and  positions  of  the  enemy,  your  know 
ledge  of  the  country,  your  supplies  and  means  of  trans 
portation,  it  is  the  wish  and  expectation  of  the  President 
that,  with  your  accustomed  energy,  you  take  up  lines  of 
march  beyond  the  Rio  Grande,  and  press  your  operations 
towards  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country;  that  is,  upon 
such  important  points  as  you  may  deem  necessary  to  conquer 
and  to  hold." 

It  has  been  sufficiently  shown,  that  the  latitude  thus  allowed 
General  Taylor  in  his  operations,  was  a  negative  privilege. 
He  was  tied  down  by  circumstances,  which  his  own  forecast 
had  in  vain  attempted  to  obviate,  to  the  spot  from  which  he 
had  driven  the  enemy. 

The  splendid  success  of  General  Taylor  and  his  army,  was 
16* 


186   BRIGADIER  GENERAL  BY  BREVET. 

learned  with  admiration  and  pride  in  every,  part  of  the  United 
States.  The  fears  for  his  safety,  which,  when  he  was  supposed 
to  be  cut  off  from  Point  Isabel  by  Arista's  army,  were,  in  the 
beginning  of  May,  wrought  up  to  intensity,  gave  way  to  uni 
versal  rejoicing  and  confidence,  when  the  victories  were  re 
ported,  which  have  made  the  8th  and  9th  of  that  month  for 
ever  glorious  in  the  history  of  the  national  arms.  Men  of  all 
parties,  those  who  opposed  the  war  as  well  as  those  who  sus 
tained  it,  united  in  awarding  honour  to  the  commander,  who, 
undaunted  by  the  number  or  position  of  his  enemies,  had 
moved  irresistibly  through  their  midst,  fulfilling  his  plans  as 
promptly  and  surely  as  though  no  obstacle,  no  danger,  had 
been  interposed  to  defeat  them.  In  every  city,  meetings  were 
held  to  express  the  exultation  of  the  people  at  home,  who 
sympathized  with  his  triumphs  in  the  distant  scene  of  his  trials 
and  labours. 

On  the  30th  day  of  May,  the  President  wrote  to  General 
Taylor  in  the  following  terms,  transmitting  a  commission  as 
Brevet  Major  General. 

.  •*%. 

Washington  City,  May  30,  184G. 

I 

SIR  :  I  transmit  to  you  herewith  a  commission  as  Major 
General  by  brevet  in  the  army  of  the  United  States,  conferred 
upon  you  for  gallant  conduct  and  distinguished  services  in  the 
successive  victories  over  superior  Mexican  forces  at  Palo  Alto 
and  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  on  the  8th  and  9th  days  of  May, 
1846. 

It  gave  me  sincere  pleasure,  immediately  upon  the  receipt 
of  official  intelligence  from  the  scene  of  your  achievements,  to 
confer  upon  you,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 

%  Senate,  this  testimonial  of  the  estimate  which  your  government 
places  upon  your  skill  and  gallantry.  To  yourself  and  the 
brave  officers  and  soldiers  under  your  command  the  gratitude 
of  the  country  is  justly  due.  Our  army  have  fully  sustained 
their  deservedly  high  reputation,  and  added  another  bright 
page  to  the  -history  of  American  valour  and  patriotism.  They 


VOTE    OF    LOUISIANA    LEGISLATURE.   187 

have  won  new  laurels  for  themselves  and  for  their  country.  My 
confidence  in  them  never  faltered.  The  battles  of  Palo  Alto 
and  Resaca  de  la  Palma  rank  among  our  most  brilliant  victo 
ries,  and  will  long  be  remembered  by  the  American  people. 
When  all  the  details  of  these  battles,  and  of  the  noble  defence 
of  the  camp  opposite  to  Matamoros,  shall  have  been  received, 
it  will  be  my  pleasure,  as  it  will  be  my  grateful  duty,  to  render 
to  the  officers  and  men  under  your  command  suitable  testimo 
nials  for  their  conduct  in  the  brilliant  victories  which  a  super 
intending  Providence  has  enabled  them  to  achieve  for  their 
country. 

In  transmitting  to  you  this  commission,  and  in  communica 
ting  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  under  your  command  my  pro 
found  sense  of  their  meritorious  services,  I  but  respond  to  the 
patriotic  enthusiasm  manifested  by  the  people  in  behalf  of  their 
brave  defenders.  Whilst  my  warmest  thanks  are  tendered  to 
the  survivors,  the  nation  mourns  the  loss  of  the  brave  officers 
and  soldiers  who  fell  in  defence  of  their  country  upon  the  field 
of  victory.  Their  names  also  shall  be  remembered,  and  ap 
propriate  honours  be  paid  to  their  memory  by  a  grateful 
country. 

You  will  cause  this  communication  to  be  made  known  to  the 
army  under  your  command. 

JAMES  K.  POLK. 

To  Brevet  Major  Gen.  Z.  Taylor, 

Commanding  U.  S.  army  on  the  Rio  Grande. 

The  Legislature  of  Louisiana  passed  a  resolution  of  thanks, 
and  voted  General  Taylor  a  sword.  A  committee  was  ap 
pointed  to  wait  upon  him  and  tender  him  the  compliment. 
The  committee  arrived  at  his  quarters  on  the  8th  of  June,  and 
the  chairman,  having  been  introduced  to  the  General  and  his 
staff,  made  a  brief  address,  to  which  the  General  replied,  with 
much  emotion,  in  these  terms : 

"My  heart  feels  too  deeply  and  sensibly  the  high  honour 
that  has  been  conferred  on  me,  my  officers  and  men,  to  respond 
to  your  expressions  of  gratitude  and  thanks.  I  always  felt  as 
sured  that  the  patriotic  state  of  Louisiana  would  be  among  the 


188    TAYLOR'S  SPEECH  IN  REPLY. 

first  to  rush  to  the  assistance  of  our  little  army  in  time  of  need. 
I  well  knew,  as  did  also  my  officers  and  men,  that  chivalry  and 
noble  daring  were  her  attributes.  Her  volunteers  have  readily 
abandoned  their  homes  and  business  to  assist  us  in  the  hour  of 
danger.  We  feel  a  deep  debt  of  gratitude  to  them  and  to  you. 
The  generous  and  timely  action  of  the  Legislature  of  Louisiana 
will  not  be  forgotten  by  us.  We  feel  that  we  have  only  done 
our  duty ;  yet  we  cannot  but  feel  gratified  to  have  gained  the 
approbation  of  our  fellow-citizens.  Together  with  the  love  of 
country,  which  is  common  to  us  all,  it  is  that  approbation 
which  cheers  and  animates  the  soldier  in  the  hour  of  battle. 
Gentlemen — I  am  unaccustomed  to  public  speaking.  I  there 
fore,  in  the  name  of  my  officers  and  men,  thank  you,  and  the 
patriotic  state  which  you  represent,  for  the  honour  conferred 
on  us." 

This  is  but  a  single  example  of  popular  feeling  for  Taylor 
and  his  army.  The  limits  of  a  volume  would  not  embrace  the 
formal  expressions  of  it,  during  the  few  days  after  the  intelli 
gence  of  his  victories  had  spread  through  the  country. 

Congress  resolved  to  place  Taylor  at  once  in  the  highest 
rank  of  the  service,  and  he  was  accordingly,  by  act  of  that 
body,  promoted  to  be  a  full  Major  General.  This  advance 
ment  was  communicated  in  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  War, 
of  which  the  following  are  extracts. 

«  War  Department, 
"Washington,  July  1,  1846. 

"  SIR  :  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  transmit  herewith  a  commis 
sion,  issued  to  you  by  the  President,  of  Major  General  in  the 
army  of  the  United  States,  pursuant  to  the  first  section  of  the 
act  of  Congress,  passed  18th  June  last,  a  copy  of  which  is  also 
herewith  enclosed. 

"  On  receiving  your  despatch  No.  51,  stating  your  want  of 
means  for  transporting  troops,  supplies,  &c.,  on  the  Rio 
Grande,  I  desired  the  quartermaster  general  to  inform  me  what 
measures  had  been  taken  on  that  subject.  I  herewith  send  you 
his  reply.  I  trust  that  the  steps  taken  by  your  orders,  and 
those  of  the  quartermaster  general  here,  will  have  furnished  the 


ANSWER    TO    SECRETARY    OF    WAR.       189 

means  to  enable  you  to  prosecute  active  operations,  as  sug 
gested  in  my  letters  of  the  28th  of  May  and  8th  of  June. 

"I  anticipated  the  embarrassments  of  which  you  complain, 
by  the  accumulation  of  troops  before  accommodations  could 
be  possibly  provided,  and  arrangements  made  for  the  employ 
ment  of  them.  The  only  relief  which  can  be  applied  to  the 
case,  is  that  contained  in  my  previous  communications  to  you 
on  the  subject,  and  in  that  from  the  adjutant  general  on  the 
25th  of  May." 

The  narrative  of  General  Taylor's  operations  and  policy  on 
the  Rio  Grande,  in  the  commencement  of  the  war,  is  continued 
by  the  insertion  of  the  subjoined  full,  and  very  able  letter,  to 
the  Secretary  of  War.  The  letter  of  the  Secretary,  dated  the 
28th  of  May,  to  which  reference  is  made,  has  been  given,  in 
part,  on  a  preceding  page. 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Matamoros,  July  2,  1846. 

Sm :  In  reply  to  the  communications  of  the  Secretary  of 
War,  dated  May  28th,  and  June  8th,  and  to  that  of  the  gene- 
ral-in-chief,  dated  June  12th,  I  have  the  honour  to  submit  the 
following  views  in  regard  to  the  operations  against  Mexico 
from  this  quarter.  I  will  remark  that  my  constant  efforts  to 
procure  information  in  relation  to  the  nature  of  the  country, 
amount  of  supplies,  &c.,  have  not  been  as  satisfactory  as  I 
could  wish,  the  various  accounts  often  differing  even  in  im 
portant  particulars.  Either  from  the  ignorance  or  interested 
motives  of  those  who  profess  to  give  information,  it  is  ex 
tremely  difficult  to  obtain  any  upon  which  we  can  implicitly 
rely. 

In  calling  upon  the  States  of  Louisiana  and  Texas  for  an 
auxiliary  force  of  about  5000  men,  it  was  my  expectation 
with  that  force  to  be  able  to  clear  the  course  of  the  Rio  Grande 
as  high  as  Laredo,  and  to  occupy  or  control  the  country  to 
the  foot  of  the  mountains,  capturing  and  holding  Monterey,  if 
circumstances  permitted.  With  the  proper  river  transportation 
this  could  have  been  easily  done,  a  depot  would  now  have 


190   SUGGESTIONS  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN. 

been   established   at   Camargo,    and   our   operations   pushed 
up  the  valley  of  the  San   Juan.     The    difficulties   and   em 
barrassments  that  I  have  experienced  for  want  of  such  trans 
portation  have  already  been  sufficiently  made  known.     These 
difficulties   have   been   increased   by   the    great    excess    of 
volunteers  that  have  been  sent  out — say  3000  men  beyond 
the   original   call.     I  nevertheless  propose,   upon  the.  arrival 
of  the   steamers   now   hourly   expected,   to    throw    forward 
this  force,  with  the  regular  troops  to  Camargo,  and  establish 
there  a  depot  and  base  from  which  to  operate  towards  the 
mountains.     My   reasons  for  retaining  these  six-months'  vol 
unteers  in  service  have  been   set  forth   in   another  commu 
nication;    and  I  desire,  from  motives  of  health   and   other 
considerations,  to  keep  them  employed  as  actively  as  possi 
ble.     Ttye  twelve-months'  volunteers  can,  in  the  mean  time, 
form  camps  at  healthy  points  in  my  rear ;  and,  while  receiving 
instruction,  await  the  season  for  more  extensive  operations. 
The   above    dispositions   can   be   made   in  the  rainy  season 
perhaps  better  than  at  any  other  time,  as  the  river  is  then 
in  a  good  navigable  state.     For  operating  with  a  heavy  force 
— say  6000  men  from  this  point — towards  Monterey  and  Sal- 
tillo,  through  which  passes  the  only  artillery  route  across  the 
mountains,  it  is  indispensable  to  employ  the  river  as  a  channel 
of  supply,  and  the  valley  of  the  San  Juan,  on  one  of  the 
heads  of  which  Monterey  is  situated,  as  a  line  of  operations. 
The  direct  land  route  from  this  point  to  Monterey  is  much 
longer  than  the  line  from  Camargo  ;  in  wet  weather  impassable 
for  artillery  or  heavy  wagons,  and  in  dry  scantily  supplied  with 
water.     Assuming,  then,  Camargo  as  the  depot,  and  the  val 
ley  of  the  San  Juan  as  the  line  of  operations,  the  question 
arises,  what  amount  of  supplies  can  be  obtained,  and  how  can 
a  column  be  subsisted  on  this  route  ?     It  is  pretty  well  deter 
mined  that  we  cannot  depend  upon  any  considerable  supply  of 
breadstuff's  short  of  Monterey,  or  perhaps  Saltillo,  seventy-five 
miles  further  south.     Beef  in  abundance,  it  is  believed,  may 
be  procured,  and  on  this,  \vith  perhaps  occasional  issues  of 
mutton,  we  must  mainly  depend  for  the  meat  part  of  the  ration. 


TAYLOR'S  LETTER  CONTINUED.   191 

From  Camargo  to  Saltillo,  then,  we  must  expect  to  depend 
upon  our  depot  for  bread  ;  and  I  am  of  opinion,  from  all  I  can 
learn  of  the  resources  of  the  country  in  pack  mules  and  means 
of  transportation  generally,  that  a  column  exceeding  six  thousand 
men  cannot  be  maintained  in  bread  alone  as  far  as  Saltillo. 
Saltillo  itself  is  at  no  great  distance  from  two  or  three  fertile 
grain-growing  districts,  but  how  far  the  production  in  those 
districts  may  exceed  the  supply  I  cannot  with  any  certainty 
determine. 

The  above  calculations,  in  regard  to  subsistence,  are  made 
on  the  suppositions  that  we  shall  find  the  people  of  the  country, 
if  not  friends,  at  least  passive  and  willing  to  part  with  their 
produce  to  the  best  advantages.  I  believe  we  shall  find  such 
to  be  their  temper  on  this  side  of  the  mountains  ;  whether  this 
neutrality  or  indifference  extends  beyond,  may  well  be^i  ques 
tion.  Should  they  prove  hostile,  destroy  their  crops,  and  drive 
away  their  stock,  it  will  be  an  extremely  difficult  matter  to  sus 
tain  a  column  at  Saltillo — still  more  so  to  pass  beyond  that  city. 

Supposing  a  column  of  the  above  strength — say  6000  men 
— able  to  maintain  itself  at  Saltillo,  it  will  become  a  question, 
depending  for  its  solution  upon  the  elements  above  indicated, 
how  far  that  force  may  be  increased,  or  what  amount  of  the 
twelve-months'  volunteers  may  be  safely  and  profitably  thrown 
forward  from  the  rear,  with  a  view  to  future  operations. 

From  Camargo  to  the  city  of  Mexico  is  a  line  little,  if  any, 
short  of  1000  miles  in  length.  The  resources  of  the  country 
are,  to  say  the  best,  not  superabundant ;  and,  over  long  spaces 
of  the  route,  are  known  to  be  deficient.  Although  the  road, 
as  we  advance  south,  approaches  both  seas,  yet  the  topography 
of  the  country,  and  the  consequent  character  of  the  communi 
cations,  forbids  the  taking  up  a  new  line  of  supply,  either  from 
Tampico  or  the  Pacific  coast.  Except  in  the  case  (deemed 
improbable)  of  entire  acquiescence,  if  not  support,  on  the  part 
of  the  Mexican  people,  I  consider  it  impracticable  to  keep 
open  so  long  a  line  of  communication.  It  is,  therefore,  my 
opinion  that  our  operations  from  this  frontier  should  not  look 
to  the  city  of  Mexico,  but  should  be  confined  to  cutting  off  the 


192   TAYLOR'S  LETTER  CONTINUED. 

northern  provinces — an  undertaking  of  comparative  facility  and 
assurance  of  success. 

With  a  view  of  cutting  off  the  northern  provinces,  the  pro 
jected  expedition  from  San  Antonio  to  Chihuahua  may  be  of 
great  importance.  From  the  best  information,  however,  which 
I  now  possess,  I  would  suggest  mounted  troops  alone  for  that 
expedition.  I  am  satisfied  that  the  route  from  that  point  to 
Chihuahua  is  not  practicable  for  artillery  or  wagons,  and  in 
fantry  would  rather  embarrass  the  movement  of  a  mounted 
expedition. 

Mountain  howitzers,  to  be  packed  with  their  carriages  on 
mules,  might  be  advantageously  employed  on  that  service,  and 
indeed  with  the  column  designed  to  penetrate  to  Saltillo.  There 
may  be  great  difficulty  in  supplying  any  considerable  force 
between  San  Antonio  and  Chihuahua,  although  the  line  is  not 
very  long,  probably  not  exceeding  300  miles.  I  hope  to  pro 
cure  better  information  than  any  I  now  possess  in  regard  to  this 
route. 

It  will  be  perceived  that  my  remarks  on  the  line  of  operations 
from  the  Rio  Grande,  southward,  have  been  confined  to  the 
question  of  subsistence,  which  is  certainly  the  most  important 
one  to  be  considered.  There  are  military  obstacles  on  the 
route,  particularly  in  the  space  between  Monterey  and  Saltillo, 
where  the  defile  of  "  La  Rinconada"  is  represented  to  be  of 
great  strength.  This  point,  and  perhaps  others,  if  fortified,  may 
give  us  some  trouble ;  but  if  they  can  be  turned  by  light  troops, 
and  such  I  believe  to  be  the  case,  they  will  not  long  impede 
our  march. 

In  regard  to  the  «  description  of  troops  best  adapted  to 
operations  in  the  interior  of  Mexico,"  I  am  scarcely  prepared 
at  this  time  to  give  a  definite  reply.  The  facility  or  difficulty 
of  obtaining  forage  must  necessarily  control  to  some  extent  the 
amount  of  cavalry  employed.  At  the  estate  of  the  Conde  de 
Jarral,  some  forty  leagues  from  Saltillo,  there  will,  I  understand, 
be  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  a  remount  when  necessary,  and 
forage  for  the  cavalry.  The  field  artillery  under  my  orders 
(four  batteries,  including  Washington's)  will,  particularly  if 


TAYLOR'S  LETTER  CONTINUED.   193 

filled  up  to  the  complement  of  guns,  be  quite  sufficient  for  any 
operations  in  this  quarter.  We  may  have  occasion  for  heavier 
guns,  and  I  have  directed  two  twelve-pounder  field-guns  to  be 
procured,  which,  with  the  twenty-four-pounder  howitzers  now 
in  depot  at  Point  Isabel,  will  constitute  an  efficient  battery. 
We  shall  have  two,  perhaps  three  regiments  of  horse  from. 
Texas  under  my  original  call.  They  are  now  organizing  under 
the  Governor's  directions  at  Point  Isabel.  These  are  six 
months'  men.  Should  I  find  it  necessary  to  increase  the 
cavalry  force,  I  can  draw  certainly  one  regiment  from  San  An 
tonio,  and  still  leave  quite  enough  for  the  expedition  to  Chi 
huahua. 

I  have  given  my  views  on  most  of  the  points  connected  with 
the  operations  from  this  frontier,  purposely  abstaining  from 
any  reference  to  movements  against  Tampico  or  Vera  Cruz. 
The  former  place,  I  am  induced  to  believe,  could  have  been 
easily  taken  a  month  since,  and  could  be  so  even  now ;  but 
the  yellow  fever  would  not  have  permitted  us  to  hold  it,  and  I 
deemed  it  best  to  undertake  no  movement  in  that  direction  at 
this  season  of  the  year.  Should  we  advance  as  far  as  San  Luis 
Potosi,  which  has  a  communication  (though  not  for  wheels) 
with  Tampico,  the  possession  of  the  latter  place  would  be  im 
portant. 

I  am  awaiting  with  utmost  impatience  the  arrival  of  steam 
boats  suited  to  the  navigation  of  this  river,  to  establish  a  depot 
at  Camargo,  and  throw  the  troops  gradually  forward  to  that 
point.  The  rainy  season  has  commenced,  and  the  river  is 
now  in  the  best  possible  condition  for  navigation.  Several 
small  boats  were  to  leave  New  Orleans  about  the  20th  of  June. 
If  not  wrecked  in  the  recent  severe  gales,  they  may  be  hourly 
expected  here. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  respectfully,  general,  your  obedient 
servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

17 


194  CAPTURE    OF    SMALL    TOWNS. 

While  General  Taylor  awaited  at  Matamoros  the  arrival  of 
boats,  necessary  for  the  advance  of  the  main  body  of  his  army, 
he  had  sent  detachments  to  take  possession  of  the  accessible 
towns  on  the  Rio  Grande.  Early  in  June,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Wilson  had  taken  peaceable  possession  of  Reynosa.  On  the 
14th  of  July,  two  companies  of  the  Seventh  Infantry,  under 
Captain  Miles,  took  possession  of  Camargo  without  opposition. 
Mier  and  Revilla  were  also  successively  occupied  by  other  de 
tachments.  In  a  despatch  mentioning  these  operations,  dated 
the  22d,  General  Taylor  adds : 

"  Captain  Miles,  the  day  after  he  had  taken  possession  of 
Camargo,  was  joined  by  the  remainder  of  the  regiment,  two 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  a  company  of  irregular  cavalry.  He 
has  since  been  reinforced  by  the  5th  infantry;  and  the  1st 
brigade  of  infantry,  under  General  Worth,  is  now  en  route  to 
Camargo,  except  a  guard  of  two  companies,  left  to  escort  the 
train  by  land — the  main  body  proceeding  by  water.  The  3d 
brigade  will  immediately  follow,  and  in  a  few  days  all  the  ac 
tive  regular  force  will  be  at  Camargo,  or  in  motion  thither.  I 
am  unavoidably  compelled,  much  to  my  regret,  to  leave  several 
companies  of  the  artillery  regiments  to  guard  the  different 
depots  in  my  rear. 

"We  have  now  several  steamboats  in  the  river,  and  the 
business  of  sending  up  troops  and  supplies  is  urged  as  much 
as  possible.  I  find  the  difficulty  of  throwing  supplies  up  the 
river  to  be  very  great,  in  consequence  of  the  rapidity  of  the 
current  and  the  entire  absence  of  dry  steamboat  fuel.  But 
every  effort  will  be  employed  to  overcome  these  difficulties, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  that  we  shall  be  able  to  keep  up  a  depot 
at  Camargo,  quite  sufficient  for  any  operations  from  that  point. 

"  As  yet  the  land  route  to  Camargo  is  impassable  for  wagons, 
owing  to  the  recent  rains  and  freshets.  As  soon  as  it  shall 
become  practicable,  the  field  artillery  and  train  of  the  army 
will  move  forward  to  Camargo. 

"  As  soon  as  I  can  complete  the  necessary  arrangements  for 
throwing  forward  the  volunteer  troops  to  Camargo,  I  propose 


CONDITION    OF    MEXICO.  195 

to  establish  my  head-quarters  at  that  point,  and  organize,  with 
out  delay,  a  marching  column  to  move  on  Monterey." 

Before  proceeding  in  the  narrative  of  General  Taylor's  opera 
tions,  a  glance  at  the  civil  condition  of  Mexico,  and  at  the 
purposes  and  measures  of  the  United  States  government  in  the 
prosecution  of  the  war,  will  aid  an  understanding  of  the  cir 
cumstances  affecting  his  progress.  His  own  views  of  the  mode 
of  bringing  the  war  to  a  successful  issue,  have  already  been 
partially  developed  in  his  correspondence.  Other  letters  remain 
to  be  cited  which  will  further  illustrate  his  opinions  on  the 
general  subject.  These  several  matters  will  be  embraced  in 
the  following  chapter. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Civil  Dissensions  of  the  Mexicans — Tyranny  of  Paredes-^-Popular  Defections 
— Conspirators  apprehended — Liberty  of  the  Press  abolished — Unwise  Policy 
of  Paredes — News  of  Arista's  Defeat  received — Sensation  in  the  Capital — 
Money  refused  by  the  Clergy — Decline  of  Paredes'  authority — Movement  in 
favour  of  Santa  Anna — Civil  War  in  Mexico — Blockade  by  the  United  States 
of  Mexican  Ports — Plans  of  the  United  States  Government — Plans  of  Ge 
neral  Taylor — Proclamation  to  the  People  of  Mexico — Confidential  Letter  to 
Taylor — Taylor's  Answer — Santa  Anna  proclaimed  in  Vera  Cruz — Excite 
ment  in  the  Capital — Fall  of  Paredes — Santa  Anna's  return  to  Mexico — Go 
vernment  of  de  Salas — Santa  Anna's  triumphal  entry  into  the  Capital — His 
pledges  to  the  Mexicans — Taylor's  Arrangements  complete  for  his  Advance 
— His  Difficulties  explained — Enumeration  of  his  Force — March  of  Worth's 
Division — Of  Butler's  and  Twiggs'  Divisions — Report  of  Forces  against 
Monterey — Sufferings  and  Death  of  Volunteers — March  of  Worth's  Division 
towards  Monterey. 

AT  the  moment  that  the  government  and  people  of  Mexico, 
regarding  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United  States  as  an 
aggressive  act,  should  have  smothered  civil  dissension,  and 
united  firmly  in  the  single  purpose  of  settling  amicably  their 
disputes  with  so  powerful  a  neighbour,  or  of  carrying  on  war 
with  all  their  energies,  that  unfortunate  country  presented  its 
wonted  scenes  of  mal-administration  on  the  one  hand,  and  re 
bellion  on  the  other.  Within  the  same  week  that  Texas  had 
been  admitted  into  the  Union  by  act  of  Congress,  a  revolution, 


196  TYRANNY    OF    PAREDES. 

the  joint  project  of  the  army  and  the  church,  had  placed  Pa- 
redes  in  the  executive  chair  of  Mexico.  Adverse,  as  we  have 
seen,  to  the  conciliatory  policy  of  Herrera,  whom  he  had  su 
perseded,  the  new  President  signalized  his  accession  to  power 
by  refusing  to  receive  an  American  diplomatic  agent,  and  by 
declaring  war  to  exist  between  the  two  nations,  as  soon  as 
General  Taylor  had  crossed  the  Nueces.  This  course,  regard 
ing  a  foreign  government,  imposing  on  Paredes  the  manifest 
duty  of  winning  the  affections  and  support  of  all  parties,  was, 
on  the  contrary,  attended  by  measures  odious  to  a  large  por 
tion  of  his  countrymen,  and  incompatible  with  their  hearty 
support  of  his  administration.  The  letter,  as  well  as  the  spirit, 
of  the  constitutions  acknowledged  by  his  predecessors  was 
changed  ;  and  even  the  affectation  of  regard  for  popular  rights, 
which  had  been  maintained  by  some  of  them,  was  by  him  dis 
carded,  and  he  assumed  an  authority  nearly  allied  to  absolut 
ism.  By  an  executive  decree,  the  elective  franchise  was  taken 
from  the  mass  of  the  people  and  confided  to  a  small  and 
privileged  class.  Yucatan,  wearied  with  the  oppressions  of 
former  administrations,  had  already  refused  her  aid  in  placing 
Vera  Cruz  in  a  condition  of  defence ;  and  the  intelligent  and 
independent  citizens  of  that  city,  in  turn  resisted  the  decree, 
which  abrogated  their  free  choice  of  representatives  to  the  na 
tional  congress.  Organized  discontent  appeared  also  in  other 
departments,  and  the  means  of  an  expedition,  destined  to  de 
fend  the  Californias  against  the  United  States,  were  appropri 
ated  by  a  revolted  garrison  to  a  scheme  of  overthrowing  the 
home  government.  Other  military  bodies  imitated  this  example, 
and  factious  or  ambitious  chiefs  fomented  popular  ill-will,  until 
their  party  became  extended  and  formidable.  The  discovery 
of  a  correspondence  among  them,  implicated  many  citizens  of 
the  capital,  who  were  accordingly  seized  and  imprisoned.  On 
the  day  that  these  things  passed  in  the  interior  and  the  city  of 
Mexico,  Taylor  hoisted  the  American  flag  on  Fort  Paredes. 

Instead  of  assuaging  the  ill-will,  manifestly  so  general,  the 
next  step  of  Paredes  was  to  trample  on  the  press.  The  editors 
of  the  journals  which  exposed  his  tyrannous  acts  were  arrested, 


REVOLUTION  IN  PROGRESS.       197 

and  with  summary  disregard  of  law,  banished  or  confined  in 
the  common  jails.  This  new  measure  of  despotism  had  just 
been  effected,  when  the  intelligence  of  Arista's  defeats,  and  the 
surrender  of  Matamoros,  reached  the  capital.  Paredes  was 
mortified,  the  citizens  enraged.  "  Death  to  the  Americans!" 
echoed  from  street  to  street,  and  from  city  to  city.  But  with 
this  sentiment  in  their  hearts,  civil  discord  still  occupied  the 
time  of  factions  daily  growing  more  powerful.  The  dictator, 
who  felt  the  responsibility  of  having  declared  war  with  the 
United  States,  found  himself  not  only  embarrassed  by  the  de 
fection  of  whole  provinces,  but  unable  to  prosecute  his  foreign 
policy  for  want  of  revenue.  While  his  energies  were  in  one 
direction  devoted  to  quelling  the  insurgents,  his  ingenuity  was 
taxed  in  another  to  supply  an  empty  treasury.  He  resolved 
on  an  appeal  to  the  clergy,  who  had  been  instrumental  in 
placing  him  in  power,  and  who  had  sanctioned  his  war  mea 
sures  on  the  ground  that  the  United  States  aimed  at  the  subver 
sion  of  the  national  religion.  This  appeal  was  duly  considered, 
and  the  ecclesiastical  council  arrived  at  the  conclusion,  that  the 
church  fund  could  not  be  diverted  from  its  special  uses. 

The  authority  attained  by  Paredes  in  January,  he  saw  rapidly 
departing  from  him  in  June.  Already  the  revolutionary  party 
had  acquired  sufficient  strength  to  overthrow  a  local  govern 
ment,  to  issue  a  formal  protest  against  the  central  power,  and 
to  declare  the  basis  of  a  new  order  of  things.  A  provisional 
government  asserted  its  existence,  and  Santa  Anna,  then  an 
exile  in  Cuba,  was  presented  as  the  patriotic  head  of  it.  The 
congress  of  Paredes  assembled,  and  his  opening  address  to 
that  body  set  forth  the  evils  under  which  the  country  suffered 
— civil  contention,  a  foreign  war,  an  exhausted  treasury.  There 
was  deliberation,  but  no  action  equal  to  the  emergency.  The 
troops  of  Paredes,  and  of  the  revolutionists,  were  in  the  field 
against  each  other,  fighting  for  the  supremacy,  while  two  com 
panies  of  United  States  Infantry  marched  into  Camargo,  with 
out  an  arm  to  oppose  them.  Paredes  enjoyed  a  temporary 
success,  but  his  power  daily  melted  away  before  the  ardent 
opposition  of  Santa  Anna's  partisans.  They  were  firmly  estab 
17* 


•*  « 

198  PLANS    OF    INVASION. 

«*fr 

lished  in  the  southern  and  western  provinces.  Paredes  still 
held  the  capital.  Such  was  the  relative  position  of  Mexican 
parties  in  the  beginning  of  July,  1846. 

On  the  same  day  that  General  Taylor  took  possession  of 
Matamoros,  an  American  squadron  anchored  off  Vera  Cruz,  and 
the  blockade  of  that,  and  other  ports  of  Mexico  on  the  Gulf, 
commenced.  The  blockade  of  the  Pacific  coast  was  also  or 
dered.  The  operations  on  land,  contemplated  by  the  govern 
ment  of  the  United  States,  embraced  three  distinct  invasions 
of  Mexico.  The  progress  of  the  main  army  under  Taylor  will 
be  presently  shown.  The  second  division,  commanded  by 
General  Wool,  was  directed  against  Chihuahua  ;  and  the  third, 
under  Col.  Kearney,  against  Santa  Fe,  in  New  Mexico.  Be 
tween  the  two  latter  divisions  and  General  Taylor,  there  was 
no  concert,  and  their  movements,  therefore,  do  not  enter  into 
this  narrative. 

During  the  month  of  July,  General  Taylor  continued  to 
discipline  his  new  troops,  and  to  make  preparations  for  the  ad 
vance  of  his  main  body  up  the  Rio  Grande,  and  ultimately  in 
the  direction  of  San  Luis  Potosi — distant  about  three  hundred 
miles  from  Matamoros — by  way  of  Saltillo  and  Monterey. 
Camargo,  already  occupied  by  a  division  under  General  Worth, 
was  destined  to  be  his  head-quarters,  from  which  the  column 
marching  on  Monterey  would  be  organized.  General  Taylor 
had  meanwhile  received  from  his  government  the  annexed 
form  of  a  proclamation  to  the  Mexican  people,  designed  to 
facilitate  his  advance,  and  to  accomplish  the  objects  of  the 
war. 

A  PROCLAMATION  by  the  General  commanding  the  Army  of  the  United 
States  of  America. 

To  THE  PEOPLE  OF  MEXICO  : — 

After  many  years  of  patient  endurance,  the  United  States  are 
at  length  constrained  to  acknowledge  that  a  war  now  exists 
between  our  government  and  the  government  of  Mexico.  For 
many  years  our  citizens  have  been  subjected  to  repeated 
insults  and  injuries,  our  vessels  and  cargoes  have  been  seized 


PROCLAMATION    TO    MEXICANS.  199 

and  confiscated,  our  merchants  have  been  plundered,  maimed, 
imprisoned,  without  cause  and  without  reparation.  At  length 
your  government  acknowledged  the  justice  of  our  claims,  and 
agreed  by  treaty  to  make  satisfaction  by  payment  of  several 
millions  of  dollars  ;  but  this  treaty  has  been  violated  by  your 
rulers,  and  the  stipulated  payments  have  been  withheld.  Our 
late  effort  to  terminate*  all  difficulties  by  peaceful  negotiation 
has  been  rejected  by  the  dictator  Paredes,  and  our  minister  of 
peace,  whom  your  rulers  had  agreed  to  receive,  has  been  re 
fused  a  hearing.  He  has  been  treated  with  indignity  and 
insult,  and  Pare'des  has  announced  that  war  exists  between  us. 
This  war,  thus  first  proclaimed  by  him,  has  been  acknowledged 
as  an  existing  fact  by  our  President  and  Congress  with  perfect 
unanimity,  and  will  be  prosecuted  with  vigour  and  energy 
against  your  army  and  rulers  ;  but  those  of  the  Mexican  people 
who  remain  neutral  will  not  be  molested. 

Your  government  is  in  the  hands  of  tyrants  and  usurpers. 
They  have  abolished  your  state  governments,  they  have  over 
thrown  your  federal  constitution,  they  have  deprived  you  of 
the  right  of  suffrage,  destroyed  the  liberty  of  the  press,  despoiled 
you  of  your  arms,  and  reduced  you  to  a  state  of  absolute  de 
pendence  upon  the  power  of  a  military  dictator.  Your  army 
and  rulers  extort  from  the  people  by  grievous  taxation,  by  forced 
loans,  and  military  seizures,  the  very  money  which  sustains  the 
usurpers  in  power.  Being  disarmed,  you  were  left  defenceless, 
an  easy  prey  to  the  savage  Camanches,  who  not  only  destroy 
your  lives  and  property,  but  drive  into  a  captivity  more  horrible 
than  death  itself,  your  wives  and  children.  It  is  your  military 
rulers  who  have  reduced  you  to  this  deplorable  condition.  It 
is  these  tyrants,  and  their  corrupt  and  cruel  satellites,  gorged 
with  the  people's  treasure,  by  whom  you  are  thus  oppressed 
and  impoverished,  some  of  whom  have  boldly  advocated  a 
monarchical  government,  and  would  place  a  European  prince 
upon  the  throne  of  Mexico.  We  come  to  obtain  reparation  for 
repeated  wrongs  and  injuries ;  we  come  to  obtain  indemnity 
for  the  past,  and  security  for  the  future  ;  we  come  to  overthrow 
the  tyrants  who  have  destroyed  your  liberties  ;  but  we  come 


200  PROCLAMATION     CONTINUED. 

to  make  no  war  upon  the  people  of  Mexico,  nor  upon  any  form 
of  free  government  they  may  choose  to  select  for  themselves. 
It  is  our  wish  to  see  you  liberated  from  despots,  to  drive  back 
the  savage  Camanches,  to  prevent  the  renewal  of  their  assaults, 
and  to  compel  them  to  restore  to  you  from  captivity  your  long- 
lost  wives  and  children.  Your  religion,  your  altars,  and 
churches,  the  property  of  your  churcRes  and  citizens,  the 
emblems  of  your  faith,  and  its  ministers,  shall  be  protected, 
and  remain  inviolate.  Hundreds  of  our  army,  and  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  our  people,  are  members  of  the  Catholic  church. 
In  every  state,  and  in  nearly  every  city  and  village  of  our 
Union,  Catholic  churches  exist,  and  the  priests  perform  their 
holy  functions  in  peace  and  security  under  the  sacred  guarantee 
of  our  Constitution.  We  come  among  the  people  of  Mexico 
as  friends  and  republican  brethren,  and  all  who  receive  us  as 
such  shall  be  protected,  whilst  all  who  are  seduced  into  the 
army  of  your  dictator  shall  be  treated  as  enemies.  We  shall 
want  from  you  nothing  but  food  for  our  army,  and  for  this  you 
shall  always  be  paid  in  cash  the  full  value.  It  is  the  settled 
policy  of  your  tyrants  to  deceive  you  in  regard  to  the  policy 
and  character  of  our  government  and  people.  These  tyrants 
fear  the  example  of  our  free  institutions,  and  constantly  en- 
jj^  '  deavour  to  misrepresent  our  purposes,  and  inspire  you  with 
hatred  for  your  republican  brethren  of  the  American  Union. — 
Give  us  but  the  opportunity  to  undeceive  you,  and  you  will 
soon  learn  that  all  the  representations  of  Paredes  were  false, 
and  were  only  made  to  induce  you  to  consent  to  the  establish 
ment  of  a  despotic  government. 

In  your  struggle  for  liberty  with  the  Spanish  monarchy, 
thousands  of  our  countrymen  risked  their  lives  and  shed  their 
blood  in  your  defence.  Our  own  commodore,  the  gallant 
Porter,  maintained  in  triumph  your  flag  upon  the  ocean,  and 
our  government  was  the  first  to  acknowledge  your  indepen 
dence.  With  pride  and  pleasure  we  enrolled  your  name  on 
the  list  of  independent  republics,  and  sincerely  desired  that 
you  might,  in  peace  and  prosperity,  enjoy  all  the  blessings  of 
free  government.  Success  on  the  part  of  your  tyrants  against 


LETTER  FROM  WAR  DEPARTMENT.   201 

the  army  of  the  Union  is  impossible ;  but,  if  they  could  suc 
ceed,  it  would  only  be  to  enable  them  to  fill  your  towns  with 
soldiers,  eating  out  your  substance,  and  harassing  you  with 
still  more  grievous  taxation.  Already  they  have  abolished  the 
liberty  of  the  press,  as  the  first  step  towards  the  introduction 
of  that  monarchy,  which  it  is  their  real  purpose  to  proclaim 
and  establish. 

Mexicans!  we  must  treat  as  enemies,  and  overthrow  the 
tyrants,  who,  whilst  they  have  wronged  and  insulted  us,  have 
deprived  you  of  your  liberty ;  but  the  Mexican  people  who 
remain  neutral  during  the  contest,  shall  be  protected  against 
their  military  despots  by  the  republican  army  of  the  Union." 

The  War  Department,  advised  by  the  President,  followed 
this  document  with  the  subjoined  confidential  letter,  which, 
with  General  Taylor's  answer,  forms  an  interesting  link  in  the 
chain,  both  of  his  instructions  and  views  touching  the  conduct 
of  the  war  generally,  and  of  that  branch  of  operations  with 
which  he  had  been  entrusted. 

Secretary  of  War  to  General  Taylor. 

War  Department, 
Washington,  July  9,  1846. 

SIR  : — The  proclamation  which  you  were  directed  to  spread 
among  the  Mexican  people  will  have  put  you  in  possession  of 
the  views  of  the  government  in  relation  to  the  mode  of  carrying 
on  the  war,  and  also  in  relation  to  the  manner  of  treating  the 
inhabitants.  The  war  is  only  carried  on  to  obtain  justice  ;  and 
the  sooner  that  can  be  obtained,  and  with  the  least  expenditure 
of  blood  and  money,  the  better.  One  of  the  evils  of  war  is 
the  interruption  of  diplomatic  communications  between  the 
respective  authorities,  and  the  consequent  ignorance  under 
which  each  party  may  lie  in  relation  to  the  views  of  the  other; 
The  natural  substitute  of  these  interrupted  diplomatic  commu 
nications  is  the  military  intercourse  which  the  usages  of  war 
allow  between  contending  armies  in  the  field,  and  in  which 
commanding  generals  can  do  much  towards  reopening  nego 
tiations,  and  smoothing  the  way  to  a  return  of  peace. 

." 


202         TAYLOR'S   POLICY  APPROVED. 

The  President  has  seen  with  much  approbation  the  civility 
and  kindness  with  which  you  have  treated  your  prisoners,  and 
all  the  inhabitants  with  whom  you  have  come  in  contact.  He 
wishes  that  course  of  conduct  continued,  and  all  opportuni 
ties  taken  to  conciliate  the  inhabitants,  and  let  them  see  that 
peace  is  within  their  reach  the  moment  their  rulers  will  consent 
to  do  us  justice.  The  inhabitants  should  be  encouraged  to 
remain  in  their  towns  and  villages,  and  these  sentiments  be 
carefully  made  known  to  them.  The  same  things  may  be  said 
to  officers  made  prisoners,  or  who  may  visit  your  head-quarters 
according  to  the  usages  of  war ;  and  it  is  the  wish  of  the  Pre 
sident  that  such  visits  be  encouraged,  and  also  that  you  take 
occasions  to  send  officers  to  the  head-quarters  of  the  enemy  for 
the  military  purposes,  real  or  ostensible,  which  are  of  ordinary 
occurrence  between  armies,  and  in  which  opportunity  may  be 
taken  to  speak  of  the  war  itself  as  only  carried  on  to  obtain 
justice,  and  that  we  had  much  rather  procure  that  by  negotia 
tion  than  by  fighting.  Of  course,  authority  to  speak  for  your 
government  will  be  disavowed,  but  a  knowledge  of  its  wishes 
will  be  averred,  and  a  readiness  will  be  expressed  to  commu 
nicate  to  your  government  the  wishes  of  the  Mexican  govern 
ment  to  negotiate  for  honourable  peace,  whenever  such  shall 
be  their  wish,  and  with  the  assurance  that  such  overtures  will 
be  met  in  a  corresponding  spirit  by  your  government.  A  dis 
creet  officer,  who  understands  Spanish,  and  who  can  be  em 
ployed  in  the  intercourse  so  usual  between  armies,  can  be  your 
confidential  agent  on  such  occasions,  and  can  mask  his  real, 
under  his  ostensible,  object  of  a  military  interview. 

You  will  also  readily  comprehend  that,  in  a  country  so  di 
vided  into  races,  classes,  and  parties,  as  Mexico  is,  and  with 
so  many  local  divisions  among  departments,  and  personal 
divisions  among  individuals,  there  must  be  great  room  for 
operating  on  the  minds  and  feelings  of  large  portions  of  the 
inhabitants,  and  inducing  them  to  wish  success  to  an  invasion 
which  has  no  desire  to  injure  their  country,  and  which,  in  over 
throwing  their  oppressors,  may  benefit  themselves.  Between 
the  Spaniards,  who  monopolize  the  wealth  and  power  of  the 

m 


SUGGESTIONS    RESPECTING    INVASION.  203 

country,  and  the  mixed  Indian  race  who  bear  its  burdens, 
there  must  be  jealousy  and  animosity.  The  same  feelings 
must  exist  between  the  lower  and  the  higher  orders  of  the 
clergy,  the  latter  of  whom  have  the  dignities  and  the  revenues, 
while  the  former  have  poverty  and  labour.  In  fact,  the  curates 
were  the  chief  authors  of  the  revolution  which  separated  Mexico 
from  Spain,  and  their  relative  condition  to  their  superiors  is  not 

much  benefited  by  it. 

*        *  ;-     *  .       »         »          *          #         #         #         #         # 

If,  from  all  the  information  which  you  may  communicate  to 
the  Department,  as  well  as  that  derived  from  other  sources,  it 
should  appear  that  the  difficulties  and  obstacles  to  the  con 
ducting  of  a  campaign  from  the  Rio  Grande,  the  present  base 
of  your  operations,  for  any  considerable  distance  into  the 
interior  of  Mexico,  will  be  very  great,  the  Department  will 
consider  whether  the  main  invasion  should  not  ultimately  take 
place  from  some  other  point  on  the  coast  —  say  Tampico  —  or 
some  other  point  in  the  vicinity  of  Vera  Cruz.  This  sugges 
tion  is  made  with  a  view  to  call  your  attention  to  it,  and  to 
obtain  from  you  such  information  as  you  may  be  able  to  im 
part.  Should  it  be  determined  that  the  main  army  should  in 
vade  Mexico  at  some  other  point  than  the  Rio  Grande  —  say 
the  vicinity  of  Vera  Cruz  —  a  large  and  sufficient  number  of 
transport  vessels  could  be  placed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rio 
Grande  by  the  time  the  healthy  season  sets  in  —  say  early  in 
November.  The  main  army,  with  all  its  munitions,  could  be 
transported,  leaving  a  sufficient  force  behind  to  hold  and  oc 
cupy  the  Rio  Grande  and  all  the  towns  and  provinces  which 
you  may  have  conquered  before  that  time.  In  the  event  of 
such  being  the  plan  of  operations,  your  opinion  is  desired : 
what  increased  force,  if  any,  will  be  required  to  carry  it  out 
with  success  ?  We  learn  that  the  army  could  be  disembarked 
a  few  miles  distant  from  Vera  Cruz,  and  readily  invest  the 
town  in  its  rear,  without  coming  within  the  range  of  the  guns 
of  the  fortress  of  San  Juan  d'Uloa.  The  town  could  be 
readily  taken  by  land,  while  the  fortress,  being  invested  by 
land  and  sea,  and  all  communication  cut  off,  must  soon  fall. 

f- 


204  HIS    OPINIONS    REQUIRED. 

The  distance  from  Vera  Cruz  to  the  city  of  Mexico  is  riot 
more  than  one-third  of  that  from  the  Rio  Grande  to  the  city 
of  Mexico.  Upon  these  important  points,  in  addition  to  those 
mentioned  in  my  letter  of  the  8th  of  June,  your  opinions  and 
views  are  desired  at  the  earliest  period  your  duties  will  permit 
you  to  give  them.  In  the  mean  time,  the  Department  confi 
dently  relies  on  you  to  press  forward  your  operations  vigo 
rously  to  the  extent  of  your  means,  so  as  to  occupy  the  im 
portant  points  within  your  reach  on  the  Rio  Grande  and  in  the 
interior.  It  is  presumed  that  Monterey,  Chihuahua,  and  other 
places  in  your  direction  will  be  taken  and  held.  If  in  your 
power  to  give  the  information,  the  Department  desires  to  be 
informed  of  the  distance  from  Chihuahua  to  Guyamas  on  the 
Gulf  of  California.  Whether  there  be  a  road  over  which 
ordnance  and  baggage  wagons  could  be  taken,  and  whether  it 
be  practicable  for  an  army  to  march  from  the  former  to  the 
latter  place,  and  what  time  would  probably  be  required  for 
mounted  men,  and  what  time  for  infantry  or  artillery  to  do  so  ? 
This  information  is  desired  before  the  department  can  be  pre 
pared  to  decide  upon  the  propriety  of  sending  forward  such 
an  expedition. 

Your  answer  to  this  communication  you  will  please  to  ad 
dress  directly  to  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant. 

W.  L.  MARCY. 

Major-General  Z.  Taylor,  Commanding,  &c. 

".''•••  General  Taylor's  Answer. 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Matamoros,  August  1, 1846. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the 
confidential  communication  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated 
July  9th,  and  to  present  the  following  remarks  in  relation  to 
the  several  points  embraced  in  it.  Agreeably  to  the  injunction 
of  the  Secretary,  this  communication  is  addressed  directly  to 
the  President  of  the  United  States. 


LETTER  FROM  GENERAL  TAYLOR.   205 

First.  As  to  the  intercourse  with  the  enemy,  and  means  of 
obtaining  information  with  regard  to  his  movements,  &c.,  I  fear 
that  no  very  satisfactory  results  will  be  obtained  in  the  way 
proposed.  The  Mexican  generals  and  other  officers  have  ex 
hibited,  since  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  a  determination 
to  hold  with  us  as  little  intercourse  as  possible.  A  most  rigid 
non-intercourse  has  been  held  throughout ;  and,  since  the  17th 
of  June,  no  communication  whatever  has  passed  between  the 
head-quarters  of  the  two  armies.  I  shall  not  fail  to  improve 
such  occasions  when  they  present  themselves,  in  the  manner 
pointed  out  by  the  Secretary.  Since  crossing  the  Rio  Grande, 
it  has  been  my  constant  aim  to  conciliate  the  people  of  the 
country,  and  I  have  the  satisfaction  of  believing  that  much  has 
been  done  towards  that  object,  not  only  here,  but  at  Reynosa, 
Camargo,  and  other  towns  higher  up  the  river.  The  only  ob 
stacle  I  encounter  in  carrying  out  this  desirable  policy  arises 
from  the  employment  of  volunteer  troops.  Some  excesses 
have  been  committed  by  them  upon  the  people  and  their  pro 
perty,  and  more,  I  fear,  are  to  be  apprehended.  With  every 
exertion,  it  is  impossible  effectually  to  control  these  troops, 
unaccustomed  as  they  are  to  the  discipline  of  camps,  and  losing, 
in  bodies,  the  restraining  sense  of  individual  responsibility. 
With  increased  length  of  service,  these  evils,  it  is  hoped,  will 
diminish. 

Second.  In  regard  to  availing  ourselves  of  internal  divi 
sions  and  discord  among  the  Mexicans,  it  is  hardly  time  yet  to 
say  how  far  this  may  be  relied  upon  as  an  element  of  success. 
I  have  good  reason  to  believe  that  the  country  lying  between 
the  Rio  Grande  and  Sierra  Madre  is  disposed  to  throw  off  the 
yoke  of  the  central  government,  and  will  perhaps  do  so  as 
soon  as  it  finds  a  strong  American  force  between  it  and  the 
capital.  I  shall  do  all  in  my  power  to  encourage  this  move 
ment,  of  which  I  received  indications  from  many  quarters,  and 
shall  comply  fully  with  the  instructions  of  the  Secretary  on  that 
point. 

Third.  As  to  the  military  operations  best  calculated  to  secure 
an  early  and  honourable  peace,  my  report  of  July  2d  will  have 
18 


206  THE    CONDUCT    OP    THE    WAR. 

put  the  Department  in  possession  of  my  views  touching  opera 
tions  in  this  quarter,  and  I  have  now  little  to  add  to  that  report. 
Whether  a  large  force  can  be  subsisted  beyond  Monterey, 
must  be  determined  by  actual  experiment,  and  will  depend 
much  upon  the  disposition  of  the  inhabitants  towards  us.  If 
a  column  (say  10,000  men)  can  be  sustained  in  provisions  at 
Saltillo,  it  may  advance  thence  upon  San  Louis  Potosi ;  and,  I 
doubt  not,  would  speedily  bring  proposals  for  peace.  If,  on 
the  other  hand,  a  column  cannot  be  sustained  beyond  Monterey, 
it  will  be  for  the  Government  to  determine,  from  considerations 
of  state,  whether  a  simple  occupation  of  the  frontier  depart 
ments,  (including  Chihuahua  and  New  Mexico,)  or  in  addition 
to  such  occupation  an  expedition- against  the  capital  [by  way 
of  Vera  Cruz]  be  most  expedient.  I  cannot  give  a  positive 
opinion  as  to  the  practicability  of  an  expedition  against  Vera 
Cruz,  or  the  amount  of  force  that  would  probably  be  required 
for  it.  The  Department  of  War  must  be  much  better  informed 
than  I  am  on  that  point.  From  the  impracticable  character  of 
the  routes  from  Tampico,  particularly  that  leading  to  Mexico, 
I  should  judge  an  expedition  against  the  capital  from  that  point 
to  be  out  of  the  question.  The  simultaneous  embarkation  of 
a  large  body  of  troops  at  Brazos  Santiago,  as  proposed  in  the 
Secretary's  communication,  would  be  attended  with  great  dif 
ficulty,  if  we  may  judge  from  the  delay  and  danger  which 
accompany  the  unloading  of  single  transports,  owing  to  the 
almost  perpetual  roughness  of  the  bar,  and  boisterous  character 
of  the  anchorage.  It  may  also  well  be  questioned  whether  a 
force  of  volunteers,  without  much  instruction,  more  than  those 
now  here  can  receive  in  season  for  sucn  an  expedition,  can 
prudently  be  allowed  to  form  the  bulk  of  an  army  destined  for 
so  delicate  an  operation  as  a  descent  upon  a  foreign  coast, 
where  it  can  have  no  proper  base  of  operations  or  supplies. 

I  have  already  had  occasion  to  represent  to  the  Department 
that  the  volunteer  force  ordered  to  report  to  me  here  is  much 
greater  than  I  can  possibly  employ,  at  any  rate  in  the  first  in 
stance  ;  the  influx  of  twelve-months'  volunteers  has  even  im 
peded  my  forward  movement,  by  engrossing  all  the  resources 


DISSENSIONS    IN    MEXICO.  207 

of  the  Quartermaster's  Department  to  land  them  and  transport 
them  to  healthy  positions.  This  circumstance,  in  connection 

with  the  possibility  of  an  expedition  against ,  leads  me 

to  regret  that  one  division  of  the  volunteers  had  not  been  en 
camped — say  at  Pass  Christian — where  it  could  have  been  in 
structed  until  its  services  were  required  in  the  field. 

These  embarrassments,  however,  are  now  mostly  overcome  ; 
the  regular  force  is  nearly  all  at  Camargo  ;  and  all  the  arrange 
ments  are  made -to  throw  forward  the  volunteers  to  the  same 
point.  The  President  may  be  assured  that  no  one  laments 
more  than  I  do  the  inevitable  difficulties  and  delays  that  have 
attended  our  operations  here,  and  that  no  exertion  of  mine  has 
been  or  will  be  wanting  to  press  forward  the  campaign  with  all 
possible  vigour.  But  I  deem  it  indispensable  to  take  such 
amount  of  force,  and  observe  such  precautions,  as  not  to  leave 
success  a  matter  of  doubt. 

In  answer  to  the  inquiry  relative  to^  the  route  from  Chihuahua 
to  Guaymas,  I  have  the  honour  to  submit  a  memorandum  de 
rived  from ,  an  American  gentleman  residing  in  this 

place,  who  has  lived  in  Chihuahua,  and  travelled  over  the 
routes.  The  distances  on  the  mule  route  are  probably  over 
rated,  as  it  is  a  direct  route  across  the  mountains.  The  wagon 
road,  by  the  city  of  Arispe,  is  the  only  one  practicable  foi 
artillery. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  obedient 
servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Maj.  Gen.  U.  S.  Army,  commanding. 

To  his  Excellency  the  Hon.  JAMES  K.  POLK, 

President  of  the  United  States,  Washington. 

The  clearness  and  comprehensiveness  of  the  views  set  forth 
in  this  letter,  show  General  Taylor's  judgment  in  council  to  be 
equal  to  his  energy  in  the  field.  While  with  his  pen,  as  well 
as  his  sword,  he  was  thus  preparing  the  way  for  the  prostration 
of  Mexico,  the  internal  dissensions  of  that  country  had  reached 
their  second  climax  in  the  year  1846.  Paredes,  who  had  sus 
tained  his  sinking  cause  until  the  end  of  July,  was  at  last  over- 


208  FALL    OF    PAREDES. 

whelmed  by  the  revolutionary  torrent.  The  city  of  Vera  Cruz 
pronounced  in  favour  of  Santa  Anna  on  the  31st  of  that  month. 
Three  days  afterwards,  intelligence  of  the  event  reached  the 
capital,  which  was  immediately  in  the  ferment  of  a  kindred 
movement.  General  de  Salas,  and  other  military  aspirants, 
issued  a  proclamation  from  the  citadel  of  Mexico,  of  which 
they  had  taken  possession,  declaring  the  electoral  laws  of  1824 
to  be  in  force,  denouncing  all  opposition  to  their  purposes  as 
traitorous,  and  inviting  the  return  of  political  exiles,  especially 
of  "  his  excellency,  Don  Antonio  Lopez  de  Santa  Anna,  the 
well- deserving  of  his  country,  acknowledging  him  as  general- 
in-chief  of  all  the  forces  pledged  and  determined  to  fight,  in 
order  that  the  nation  may  recover  its  rights,  secure  its  liberty, 
and  govern  itself."  Paredes  made  a  bold  but  futile  resistance 
to  de  Salas  and  his  compeers,  and  then,  with  a  handful  of  men, 
fled  from  the  capital.  Soon  afterwards,  he  was  a  prisoner  in 
the  castle  of  Perote. 

Santa  Anna,  thus  recalled,  sailed  from  Cuba,  with  his  per 
sonal  followers,  and  arrived  at  Vera  Cruz  on  the  16th  of 
August,  passing  through  the  United  States'  blockading  squad 
ron,  by  the  express  permission  of  the  President.  This  may 
not  be  the  place  to  examine  the  policy  of  such  an  order.  It  is 
sufficient  to  state  the  fact.  Santa  Anna  was  received  with  en 
thusiasm  by  the  citizens  of  Vera  Cruz,  which  was  shared  by  the 
Mexicans  generally,  and  enabled  him  to  combine  opposing 
factions,  and  prepare  the  way  for  a  concentrated  and  powerful 
resistance  to  the  United  States,  to  which  none  of  his  rivals  was 
equal.  It  may  be  conceded  that  patriotism  dictated  the  move 
ment  in  his  favour,  if  the  immediate  effects  of  his  presence  be 
accepted  as  evidence.  The  provisional  government  of  de 
i,  Salas  had  declared  the  constitution  of  1824  to  be  in  force,  and 
the  election  of  a  new  congress,  to  meet  in  December,  was 
ordered  conformably  to  that  instrument.  "  Frankness,  honour, 
honesty,  and  entire  devotion  to  republican  principles,"  were 
declared  to  be  the  basis  of  the  new  administration. 

The  way  being  thus  paved  for  the  return  of  Santa  Anna  to 
the  city  of  Mexico,  he  left  his  hacienda,  where  he  had  sojourned 


SANTA    ANNA    INMEXICO.  209 

after  his  arrival  at  Vera  Cruz  ;  and,  at  high  noon,  on  the  15th 
of  September,  made  a  triumphal  entry  into  the  metropolis.  He 
was  hailed  by  the  revolutionary  chieftains,  and  by  the  people, 
with  every  demonstration  of  respectful  and  affectionate  wel 
come  ;  and  as  he  rode  through  the  streets  to  the  national 
palace,  amid  the  waving  of  thousands  of  hands,  the  cheers  of 
thousand  of  voices,  the  swell  of  music,  the  peal  of  bells,  and 
the  roar  of  artillery,  no  observer  would  have  dreamed  that  a 
potent  foreign  enemy,  already  the  victor  on  well-contested 
fields,  and  the  captor  of  fortified  towns,  was  at  that  moment 
marching  to  further  conquest  into  the  land  of  that  exulting 
multitude.  For  Santa  Anna,  however,  the  day  might  well  con 
tent  his  pride.  The  proscribed,  the  forsaken,  the  reviled,  the 
banished,  he  returned  to  his  country  the  chosen  chief  of  her 
chiefs,  his  rivals  prostrated  and  disgraced,  and  himself  the  idol 
of  his  own  friends,  and  the  admiration  of  theirs.  In  return  for 
the  confidence  reposed  in  him,  he  promised  a  free  government, 
and  the  fulfilment  of  every  duty  in  resisting  the  enemies  of  his 
country.  When  the  difficulties  which  beset  him,  in  giving 
even  the  appearance  of  efficiency  to  this  promise,  are  con 
sidered,  candour  must  award  him  the  praise  of  singular  talent 
as  a  statesman,  a  soldier,  and  a  popular  leader. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  General  Taylor  found  his  arrange 
ments,  after  numerous  difficulties  and  delays,  so  far  completed, 
that  he  should  be  ready  to  advance  upon  the  road  to  Monterey 
in  the  course  of  a  few  days.  The  evidence  is  of  record,  that 
the  tardiness  of  his  movements  was  not  only  not  attributable  to 
himself,  but  was  caused  by  the  neglect  of  the  government  or 
its  agents  in  complying  with  his  repeated  and  earnest  sugges 
tions.  This  fact  is  most  forcibly  set  forth  in  the  following 
plain  and  manly  letter  to  the  War  Department : 


Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Camargo,  September  1,  1846. 

SIR  :  Before  marching  for  the  interior,  I  beg  leave  to  place 
on  record  some  remarks  touching  an  important  branch  of  the 
public  service,  the  proper  administration  of  which  is  indispen 

18* 


L*M 


210       JUSTIFICATION    OF    GEN.    TAYLOR. 

sable  to  the  efficiency  of  a  campaign.  I  refer  to  the  Quarter- 
master's  Department.  There  is  at  this  moment,  when  the  army 
is  about  to  take  up  a  long  line  of  march,  a  great  deficiency  of 
proper  means  of  transport,  and  of  many  important  supplies. 

On  the  26th  April,  when  first  apprizing  you  of  the  increased 
force  called  out  by  me,  I  wrote  that  I  trusted  the  War  Depart 
ment  would  "  give  the  necessary  orders  to  the  staff  depart 
ment,  for  the  supply  of  this  large  additional  force  ;"  and  when 
first  advised  of  the  heavy  force  of  twelve-months'  volunteers 
ordered  hither,  I  could  not  doubt  that  such  masses  of  troops 
would  be  accompanied,  or  preferably  preceded  by  ample  means 
of  transportation,  and  all  other  supplies  necessaryto  renderthem 
efficient.  But  such  has  not  been  the  case.  Suitable  steamboats 
for  the  Rio  Grande  were  not  procured  without  repeated  efforts 
directed  from  this  quarter,  and  many  weeks  elapsed  before  a 
lodgement  could  be  made  at  this  place,  the  river  being  per 
fectly  navigable. 

After  infinite  delays  and  embarrassments,  I  have  succeeded 
in  bringing  forward  a  portion  of  the  army  to  this  point,  and 
now  the  steamers  procured  in  Pittsburg  are  just  arriving.  I 
hazard  nothing  in  saying,  that  if  proper  foresight  and  energy 
had  been  displayed  in  sending  out  suitable  steamers  to  navi 
gate  the  Rio  Grande,  our  army  would  long  since  have  been  in 
possession  of  Monterey. 

Again,  as  to  land  transport.  At  this  moment  our  wagon 
train  is  considerably  less  than  when  we  left  Corpus  Christi,  our 
force  being  increased  Jive-fold.  Had  we  depended  upon  means 
from  without,  the  army  would  not  have  been  able  to  move  from 
this  place.  But  fortunately  the  means  of  land  transport  existed 
to  some  extent  in  the  country,  in  the  shape  of  pack-mules,  and 
we  have  formed  a  train  which  will  enable  a  small  army  to  ad 
vance  perhaps  to  Monterey.  I  wish  it  distinctly  understood, 
that  our  ability  to  move  is  due  wholly  to  means  created  here, 
and  which  could  not  have  beon  reckoned  upon  with  safety  in 
Washington. 

I  have  adverted  to  the  grand  points  of  water  and  land  trans 
portation.  Of  the  want  of  minor  supplies,  the  army  has  suf- 


TAYLOR  LEAVES  CAMARGO.       211 

fered  more  than  enough.  The  crying  deficiency  of  camp 
equipage  has  been  partially  relieved  by  the  issue  of  cotton 
tents,  of  indifferent  quality.  Our  cavalry  has  been  paralyzed 
by  the  want  of  horse-shoes,  horse-shoe-nails,  and  even  com 
mon  blacksmith's  tools,  while  many  smaller  deficiencies  are 
daily  brought  to  my  notice. 

I  respectfully  request  that  the  above  statement,  which  I  make 
in  justice  to  myself  and  the  service,  may  be"  laid  before  the 
general-in-chief  and  Secretary  of  War. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 

Maj.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 
The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

In  the  5th  of  September,  the  divisions  of  General  Butler 
and  Col.  Twiggs  having  taken  up  the  line  of  march,  General 
Taylor  himself  followed  the  army,  leaving  General  Patterson 
in  command  of  all  the  forces  on  the  Rio  Grande  in  and  below 
Camargo. 

Although  the  main  direction  of  Taylor's  operations  had  been 
dictated  by  the  Government,  there  yet  remained,  on  the  part 
of  the  latter,  uncertainty  in  the  details  of  the  campaign.  About 
the  time  that  Taylor  left  Camargo,  a  despatch  from  the  War 
Department,  indicating  its  reliance  upon  his  judgment,  was  in 
tercepted  by  the  enemy.  Extracts  from  it  are  here  given,  how 
ever,  for  the  purpose  of  showing  how  great  were  the  acknow 
ledged  difficulties  of  the  enterprize  with  which  Taylor  was 
charged. 

"  Our  attention,"  says  the  Secretary  of  War,  "  is  turned  to 
Tampico  as  one  of  the  places  for  the  attack.  It  may  be  im 
portant  to  take  that  place,  and  hold  possession  of  it  and  the 
surrounding  country,  with  reference  to  your  line  of  operations. 
Though  our  information  is  not  so  full  and  accurate  as  we  de 
sire,  in  relation  to  the  interior  of  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of 
Tampico,  yet  it  is  such  as  induces  us  to  believe  that  this  will 
be  an  important  position  to  be  occupied,  to  facilitate  the  future 
prosecution  of  the  war.  The  possession  of  the  northern  pro- 


212     INTERCEPTED  INSTRUCTIONS. 

vinces  of  Mexico,  as  far  south  as  San  Luis  de  Potcsi,  is  un 
doubtedly  an  important  object  with  reference  to  bringing  the 
-war  to  a  successful  termination.  The  difficulties  you  will  en 
counter  in  pushing  your  forces  thus  far,  can  be  much  better 
appreciated  by  yourself 'than  any  other.  San  Luis  de  Potosi 
is  stated  to  be  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  one  hundred  and 
eighty  miles  from  Tampico ;  and  if  there  be  a  good  road  be 
tween  these  two  places — as  some  allege  to  be  the  case,  while 
it  is  questioned  by  others — it  will  be  highly  advantageous  to 
have  possession  of  Tampico,  and  to  penetrate  the  country  from 
that  point  in  the  direction  of  San  Luis  de  Potosi  with  a  con 
siderable  force.  This  matter  is  under  consideration,  and  will 
receive  the  attention  it  deserves.  It  is  important,  in  respect  to 
the  plan  of  operations  to  be  adopted  for  a  movement  on  this 
point,  that  you  should  furnish  the  Government  here,  at  the 
earliest  period,  with  your  opinion  of  the  progress  you  will  be 
able  to  make  on  your  present  line  of  operations.  When  you 
shall  have  arrived  at  Monterey,  you  will  be  enabled  to  deter 
mine  as  to  the  practicability  of  your  further  progress.  It  is  im 
portant  that  we  should  know  whether  you  can  reach  San  Luis 
de  Potosi,  and  your  opinion  on  this  point  is  particularly  de 
sired.  The  Administration  is,  to  some  extent,  aware  of  the 
obstacles  you  will  have  to  encounter,  of  the  difficulties  of  sus 
taining  so  long  a  line  of  communication,  and  of  the  uncer 
tainty  as  to  the  force  which  will  oppose  you ;  but  your  better 
information  on  these  several  points  will  enable  you  to  form 
much  more  accurate  opinions. 

"Your  views  also  as  to  the  effect  of  taking  possession  of 
Tampico,  of  penetrating  the  enemy's  country  from  that  point, 
of  the  amount  and  kind  offeree  to  be  assigned  to  that  service, 
are  desired. 

"  It  is  not  intended  to  weaken  the  force  of  your  advancing 
column  by  any  movements  on  the  coast.  It  is  supposed  that 
fifteen  hundied  or  two  thousand  men  will  be  a  sufficient  num 
ber  of  troops  to  take  and  hold  possession  of  Tampico.  At 
least  half  of  this  force  ought  to  be  of  the  regular  army.  These, 


THE    ARMY    FOR    MONTEREY.  213 

it  is  presumed,  can  be  obtained  without  withdrawing  any  of 
that  description  of  force  now  with  you. 

"  The  amount  of  the  volunteer  force  required  for  this  pur 
pose  can  be  taken  from  the  Rio  Grande,  it  is  presumed,  with 
out  too  much  weakening  that  line. 

"  As  you  are  in  a  situation  to  obtain  more  full  and  accurate 
information  in  relation  to  all  the  matters  touched  on  in  this 
communication,  it  is  desirable — indeed  quite  important — that 
the  Administration  should  have  your  views  upon  them.  It  is 
unnecessary  to  assure  you  that  they  will  have  an  important  in 
fluence  upon  its  determinations."  .  .}• 

The  column  organized  by  General  Taylor  for  the  advance 
on  Monterey  consisted  of  six  thousand  six  hundred  and  forty 
men.  It  was  composed  of  the  following  corps : 

BUTLER'S   DIVISION. 

Hamer's  J  1st  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteers,  Col.  Mitchell. .......     540 

Brigade.  (  1st  Regiment  Kentucky  Volunteers,  Col.  Ormsby. . ..     540 

C  1st  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers,  Col.  Campbell. .      540 


1  Mississippi  Volunteers,  Col.  Davis 690 

sngaue.   ^  Baltimore  Battalion,  Col.  Watson 400 

2710 

WORTH'S  DIVISION. 

Regiment  of  Regulars,  Col.  P.  F.  Smith 500 

Dragoons,  and  parts  of  6th  and  other  Infantry 1080 

Two  Companies  McCulloch's  and  Gillespie's  Texas  Rangers 100 

1700 

TWIGGS'   DIVISION. 

Texas  Cavalry,  Col.  Hays 500 

U.  S.  Dragoons,  Col.  May 250 

Flying  Artillery,  Duncan  and  Ridgely 100 

Artillery,  one  ten-inch  Mortar,  Capt.  Webster 60 

Parts  of  several  Regiments,  (Infantry) 1320 

2230 

Total,  6640 

Besides  this  force,  General  Taylor  reserved  two  thousand 
one  hundred  men  to  garrison  Camargo,  and  other  forces  for 
the  points  farther  in  his  rear.  The  whole  of  this  reserve  was 
left  under  the  command  of  General  Patterson. 


214          SICKNESS    AMONG    VOLUNTEERS. 

From  the  time  that  General  Taylor  took  possession  of  Mata- 
moros,  it  was  his  constant  concern  to  bring  the  new  corps  of 
his  army  under  the  influence  of  strict  discipline.  He  found 
himself  suddenly  charged  with  the  command  of  not  less  than 
ten  thousand  volunteers,  wholly  unused  to  military  restraint, 
and  of  necessity  unconscious,  for  the  most  part,  of  its  necessity 
for  their  common  welfare,  and  the  success  of  the  enterprize  in 
which  they  were  enlisted.  Brave  and  patriotic  spirits,  they 
were,  at  the  same  time,  accustomed  to  the  individual  freedom 
of  civil  life ;  and  the  irksomeness  of  absolute  conformity  to 
rules  of  deportment,  and  the  commands  of  superiors,  could  not 
be  worn  off  without  some  exhibitions  of  insubordination.  One 
of  the  first  measures  adopted  by  Taylor  to  secure  proper  disci 
pline,  was  to  forbid  traffic  in  ardent  spirits  in  all  the  towns 
under  his  authority,  The  weight  of  his  own  correct  example 
as  a  man,  and  of  his  character  as  a  commander,  was  material  in 
accomplishing  his  purposes  of  military  and  moral  organization. 
It  is  due,  at  the  same  time,  to  the  volunteers,  who,  at  the  first 
call  of  the  government,  left  their  homes  and  profitable  occupa 
tions  for  dangerous  and  ill-paid  service  in  a  distant  territory, 
to  mention  that  they  bore  with  heroic  patience,  not  only  the 
ordinary  labours  of  a  soldier's  life,  but  the  pains  of  long 
marches,  of  exposure  to  burning  suns  and  chilling  dews,  of 
hunger  and  thirst,  and  of  sickness  unto  death.  Hundreds  and 
thousands  of  gallant  young  men,  full  of  the  noble  impulses  of 
their  age,  who,  prompted  by  the  desire  to  serve  their  country, 
and  attracted  by  the  hope  of  meriting  well  of  their  fellow-citi 
zens,  forsook  the  security  and  the  endearments  of  peaceful  life, 
to  take  up  arms  in  a  national  cause,  found  themselves,  after  long 
travel  and  novel  hardships,  broken  down  by  heart-sickness, 
wasted  by  disease,  and  perishing,  not  in  the  dazzling  turmoil 
of  the  battle-field,  but  in  the  loathsome  quietude  of  the  hospi 
tal,  tended,  when  yielding  their  last  breath,  by  no  fond  or 
wonted  hand,  and  unconsoled  in  that  sad  hour  even  by  the 
empty  reflection  that  their  names  would  swell  the  ephemeral 
record  of  war's  humblest  victims. 

On  the  20th  of  August,  General  Worth's  division  had  been 


THE    MARCH    FROMCAMARGO.  215 

ordered  to  advance  on  the  road  to  Monterey  as  far  as  Seralvo, 
a  town  distant  seventy  miles  from  Camargo,  there  to  await 
further  instructions  of  the  commander-in-chief.  The  order 
was  duly  executed,  the  division  arriving  at  Seralvo  on  the 
25th.  This  movement  was  the  commencement  of  a  new  period 
in  the  operations  of  Taylor  in  Mexico, — a  period  illustrated  by 
extraordinary  successes,  confirming  his  title  to  every  quality 
of  a  great  general. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Enemy  reinforced  at  Monterey — Taylor,  with  Twiggs'  and  Butler's  Divisions, 
marches  from  Camargo — The  March — Rest  at  Seralvo — Appearance  of  the 
Country — Mexican  Forces  discovered — The  Advance  before  Monterey  fired 
upon — Encampment  at  Walnut  Springs — Description  of  Monterey — Its  For 
tifications — Mexican  Forces  in  it — Ampudia's  Address — Taylor'sReconnois- 
sance — His  Plan  of  Assault — Worth's  Expedition — His  movement  on  the 
20th — Skirmish  on  the  2 1st — Occupation  of  the  Saltillo  Pass — Movements 
of  Butler's  Division — First  Fort  in  the  Eastern  Suburbs  carried — Terrible 
Fire  of  the  Enemy's  Batteries — Repulse  of  the  Lancers — Two  Forts  on  the 
Heights  carried — Losses  on  the  First  Day — Dispositions  for  the  Night. 

GENERAL  TAYLOR,  having  been  advised  by  General  Worth  that 
large  reinforcements  of  the  enemy  were  arriving  at  Monterey, 
determined  to  delay  no  longer  his  advance  upon  that  place.  The 
divisions  of  Generals  Twiggs  and  Butler  were  accordingly 
ordered  to  take  up  the  line  of  march,  and  General  Taylor  him 
self  left  Camargo  on  the  7th  of  September.  His  route,  for 
several  days,  lay  through  a  country  presenting  few  objects  of 
interest.  There  was  little  vegetation  except  the  thorny  shrub 
bery  peculiar  to  that  vast  region  of  Mexico  The  aspect  of 
the  wilderness  was  varied  by  deep  chasms  or  ravines,  contain 
ing,  generally,  stagnant  water,  equally  offensive  in  taste  and 
odor.  After  the  town  of  Mier  was  passed,  the  prospect  began 
to  improve.  Distant  mountains  began  to  show  their  misty  out 
line  against  the  sky,  and,  as  they  were  gradually  approached, 


216    THE  APPROACH  TO  MONTEREY. 

a  clear,  cool  stream,  the  Arroya  Mier,  one  of  their  tributes  to 
the  Rio  Grande,  swept  across  the  road, — a  most  welcome  mes 
senger  to  the  troops  oppressed  with  heat,  and  worn  with  travel. 
From  this  point,  the  country  wore  a  new  aspect,  still,  however, 
wild  and  primitive.  The  creeks  and  rivulets,  fresh  from  the 
mountains,  became  frequent ;  and,  on  their  banks,  bloomed 
olive  groves,  with  other  denizens  of  the  genial  south.  At 
intervals,  far  between,  an  humble  rancho  was  discovered  ;  and, 
more  frequently,  a  rustic  cross,  marking  a  grave,  or  the  spot 
where  some  wayfarer  had  been  murdered. 

The  three  divisions  of  the  army  having  rested  at  Seralvo, 
the  first,  under  General  Twiggs,  resumed  its  march  from  that 
town  on  the  13th,  and  the  others  promptly  followed.  The 
road  now  broke  fairly  into  the  mountainous  region.  The  Sierra 
Alvo,  a  magnificent  elevation  of  three  thousand  feet,  arose  to 
the  right,  with  an  ascent  so  sudden,  that  from  the  peaks,  as 
seen  from  below,  it  seemed  a  stone  might  be  cast  into  the  road. 
On  the  left  frowned  another  height,  while  in  front  the  grand 
range  wore  the  appearance  of  an  immense  amphitheatre.  As 
the  ridges  were  gained  the  scenery  changed,  presenting,  appa 
rently,  a  vast  plain,  covered  with  chapparal,  in  crossing  which, 
however,  it  was  found  to  be  intersected  with  deep  and  rocky 
ravines,  washed  by  the  highland  torrents. 
*  The  Rangers,  of  Worth's  division,  thrown  forward  during 
his  encampment  at  Seralvo,  had  discovered  a  large  body  of 
Mexican  cavalry  posted  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Marin,  a  vil 
lage  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  San  Juan.  Subsequently, 
on  the  march,  slight  skirmishes  took  place  between  advanced 
parties,  but  the  enemy  continued  to  retire  towards  Monterey. 
On  the  seventeenth  the  army  was  concentrated  at  Marin,  twelve 
miles  north-east  of  that  city.  The  following  morning,  at  day 
break,  the  whole  was  in  motion,  General  Twiggs'  division 
leading,  General  Worth's  following,  and  General  Butler's 
bringing  up  the  rear.  In  this  order  the  San  Juan  had  been 
crossed,  ajid  the  head  of  the  main  column  was  about  six  miles 
from  Monterey,  when  the  report  of  artillery  was  heard.  The 


«••• 


-»"« 


SITUATION    OF    MONTEREY.  217 

Texas  Rangers  being  in  advance,  it  was  known  at  once  that 
the  fire  was  from  the  enemy's  batteries,  directed  against  them, 
and  a  reconnoitring  party,  which  escorted  General  Taylor 
within  full  view  of  the  town.  Doubts  had  been  entertained 
whether  resistance  would  be  finally  offered  to  the  occupation 
of  it ;  but  these  doubts  now  ceased,  and  the  troops,  two- 
thirds  of  them  volunteers  who  had  never  met  an  enemy  in  the 
field,  started  forward  with  vociferous  cheers,  forgetting  fatigue 
in  their  anxiety  to  prove  themselves  worthy  of  the  conquest 
which  they  sought.  It  was  not  General  Taylor's  intention  to 
commence  the  assault  that  day.  He  therefore  ordered  a  halt, 
on  a  small  stream  called  the  Walnut  Springs,  three  miles  north 
of  the  city,  while  a  thorough  reconnoissance  of  its  position  and 
defences  might  be  effected  by  the  officers  of  the  engineer 
corps. 

Monterey,  the  capital  of  the  State  of  New  Leon,  is  a  city 
of  fifteen  thousand  inhabitants.  It  is  distant  about  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  miles  from  Camargo,  near  the  base  of  the  grand 
mountainous  range  called  the  Sierra  Madre,  which  sweeps 
around  its  south-western  angle.  The  Arroya  San  Juan,  a 
small  branch  of  the  San  Juan  river,  runs  beyond  the  town, 
parallel  to  the  curve  of  the  mountain.  On  the  north,  whence 
the  road  from  Camargo  approaches,  is  an  extensive  and  gradu 
ally  inclined  plain,  rising  from  the  margin  of  the  creek,  inter 
rupted  only  by  a  dry  ravine  crossing  it  about  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  in  front  of  the  town ;  which,  at  that  distance,  is  seen  em 
bosomed  in  trees,  revealing  its  white  walls  and  spires  through 
the  openings  of  their  luxuriant  foliage.  The  plain  is  varied 
with  patches  of  chapparal,  and  fields  of  corn  and  sugar-cane  ; 
and  the  light  of  this  sunny  undergrowth  is  relieved  by  the 
umbrage  of  orange,  lemon,  citron,  and  olive  groves,  and  other 
beautiful  natives  of  that  genial  climate.  The  mountains,  which 
wall  up  the  southern  and  western  horizon,  rear  their  rugged 
and  mighty,  heads  far  above  the  clouds  of  the  valley,  and  a 
single  gorge  marks  the  only  continuation  to  Saltillo,  of  the 
roads  from  the  Rio  Grande,  which  coalesce  at  Monterey. 

To  save  this  important  and  favoured  spot  from  the  posses- 


218       DESCRIPTION    OF    ITS    DEFENCES. 

sion  of  an  enemy,  was  a  purpose  which  stimulated  the  ener 
gies  of  its  people  and  their  government.  To  this  end,  the 
natural  defences  of  the  site  were  improved  with  skill  and  great 
diligence.  In  front,  and  to  the  right  of  the  town,  a  very  ex 
tensive  and  strong  fortress,  known  as  the  «  citadel,"  had  for 
some  time  been  erected.  Standing  on  the  plain,  it  covers  an 
area  of  about  three  acres,  the  walls  of  solid  masonry,  thick 
and  high,  with  bastions  commanding  all  approach  from  the 
north-east,  the  north,  and  north-west.  On  the  eastern  side  of 
the  city,  several  redouts  were  built  near  the  suburbs,  forbid 
ding  ingress  in  that  quarter.  The  range  of  the  southernmost 
of  these  extended  to  the  base  of  the  heights  in  the  rear,  be 
tween  which  and  the  town,  as  has  been  described,  is  the  course 
of  the  Arroyo  San  Juan.  Following  this  course  to  the  south 
west  extremity  of  the  city,  two  forts  appear  on  the  hills  of  its 
further  side ;  while  on  the  nearer  side  of  it,  as  well  as  of  the 
Saltillo  road,  two  other  fortifications  crown  successive  eleva 
tions  covering  the  pass.  Of  these  latter,  the  lower  one  is  a 
large  and  unfinished  structure,  designed  for  the  Bishop's  Pa 
lace,  and  known  as  such.  The  upper  one,  more  remote  from 
the  city,  is  an  independent  redout,  erected  expressly  for  de 
fence.  Entrance  to  the  town  on  that  quarter  was  further  for 
bidden  by  the  walls  of  the  cemetery,  forming  a  strong  breast 
work  with  embrasures.  These  numerous  and  well- constructed 
works  were  mounted  with  forty-two  heavy  cannon. 

In  addition  to  these  special  external  defences,  and  many  street 
barricades  then  constructed,  Monterey  presents  in  its  plan, 
and  in  the  form  of  its  buildings,  extraordinary  obstacles  to  an 
assault.  Regularly  laid  out,  a  few  pieces  of  artillery  command 
the  whole  length  of  the  principal  streets.  But  its  chief  secu 
rity  is  the  stone  walls  of  the  houses,  which,  rising  above  the 
flat  roofs,  and  forming  around  them  and  the  courts  regular 
parapets,  afford  thorough  protection  to  their  defenders.  Each 
dwelling  is  thus  a  separate  castle,  and  the  whole  city  one  grand 
fortification,  suggested  by  nature  and  consummated  by  art.  To 
man  ttye  works,  Ampudia,  to  whom  the  command  was  entrusted, 
had  eight  thousand  regular  troops,  and  several  thousand  militia 


RECONNOISSANCE    BY    GEN.    TAYLOR.   219 

and  armed  citizens,  with  abundant  supplies  of  small  arms  and 
ammunition  in  addition  to  the  ordnance  already  mentioned. 
While  these  preparations  for  an  attack  were  in  progress,  and 
before  his  forces  had  been  concentrated,  he  issued  the  follow 
ing  address,  showing  his  contempt  for  the  little  army  of  the 
Americans,  then  about  marching  to  the  capture  of  the  northern 
stronghold  of  Mexico : 

"  SOLDIERS  :  — The  enemy,  numbering  only  2500  regular 
troops,  the  remainder  being  only  a  band  of  adventurers,  with 
out  valour  or  discipline,  are,  according  to  reliable  information, 
about  advancing  upon  Seralvo,  to  commit  the  barbarity  of 
attacking  this  most  important  place.  We  count  near  3000 
regulars  and  auxiliary  cavalry,  and  these  will  defeat  them 
again  and  again,  before  they  can  reach  this  city.  Soldiers,  we 
are  constructing  fortifications,  to  make  our  base  at  a  convenient 
time,  and  drive  back  this  enemy  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 

"  Soldiers!  three  great  virtues  make  the  soldier  worthy  of 
his  profession ;  discipline,  constancy  under  fatigue,  and  valour. 
He  who  at  this  moment  would  desert  his  colours,  is  a  coward 
and  a  traitor  to  his  country.  Our  whole  nation,  and  even 
foreign  countries  are  the  witnesses  of  your  conduct.  The 
question  now  is,  whether  our  independence  shall  be  preserved 
or  forever  lost ;  and  its  solution  is  in  your  hands. 

"  I  have  assured  the  supreme  government  of  the  triumph  of 
our  arms,  confiding  in  your  loyalty  and  enthusiasm ;  and  we 
will  prove  to  the  whole  world  that  we  are  worthy  sons  of  the 
immortal  Hidalgo,  Morelo,  Allende,  Iturbide,  and  so  many 
other  heroes  who  knew  how  to  die  combatting  for  the  inde 
pendence  of  our  cherished  country. 

"  Soldiers !  victory  or  death  must  be  our  only  device ! 

"  PEDRO  DE  AMPUDIA. 

"Head-Quarters,  Monterey,  September  14,  1846." 

From  the  plain  of  the  road  by  which  he  had  approached 
Monterey,  General  Taylor,  on  the  19th  of  September,  surveyed 
its  fortifications,  within  range  of  the  guns  of  the  Citadel.     He     .  J 
19* 


220  GENERAL    WORTH'S    DIVISION. 

then  halted  the  army,  as  we  have  seen,  at  Walnut  Springs, 
where  the  camp  was  formed,  and  ordered  a  close  reconnois- 
sance  of  the  outworks  on  both  sides  of  the  town  by  the  offi 
cers  of  the  engineers  and  topographical  engineers.  The  result 
of  this  examination,  boldly  and  carefully  executed  under  the 
direction  of  Major  Mansfield  and  Captain  Williams,  at  once 
determined  the  plan  of  operations.  It  became  evident  that 
an  attempt  should  be  made  to  gain,  by  a  detour  to  the  west, 
the  Saltillo  road,  at  its  junction  with  the  roads  leading  from 
the  city;  and  from  that  point,  cutting  off  the  enemy's  supplies 
and  his  retreat,  to  storm  the  heights  overlooking  it  and  the  south 
western  angle  of  the  city.  For  this  difficult  and  important 
service  General  Taylor  detached  a  division  under  General 
Worth,  on  the  following  day,  the  20th,  at  noon. 

The  division  was  composed  of  Duncan's  battery  (four 
pieces)  of  Flying  Artillery,  the  Artillery  Battalion,  under 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Childs,  and  the  Eighth  Regiment  of  In 
fantry,  under  Captain  Screvin,  constituting  the  First  Brigade, 
under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Staniford ;  the  Flying  Artillery 
(four  pieces),  under  Lieutenant  Mackall,  the  Fifth  Infantry, 
under  Major  Scott,  the  Seventh,  under  Captain  Niles,  and  one 
company  Louisiana  volunteers,  under  Captain  Blanchard,  com 
posing  the  Second  Brigade,  under  General  Persifer  F.  Smith ; 
and  Colonel  Hay's  regiment  of  Texas  Mounted  Riflemen. 
Captain  Sanders,  military  engineers,  and  Lieutenant  Meade, 
topographical  engineers,  accompanied  the  division.  General 
Worth,  with  this  command,  turning  off  the  direct  road 
which  connects  Marin  with  Monterey,  sought  another  to  the 
right,  called  the  Presquina  Grande  road.  His  progress  was 
slow,  the  way  having  to  be  cut  for  the  artillery,  through  fields 
of  corn,  sugar  cane,  and  underwood ;  but  at  sundown  he  had 
advanced  six  miles,  and  reaching  the  Presquina  Grande  road, 
came  within  range  of  the  guns  of  the  fort  occupying  the  crest 
of  the  height,  midway  on  which  is  situated  the  Bishop's 
Palace.  A  reconnoissance,  under  cover  of  the  Texas  Mounted 
Rifles,  was  then  made  along  the  road  to  its  junction  with  the 
Saltillo  road,  and  the  importance  of  occupying  the  point  of 


SKIRMISH  OF  WORTH'S  DIVISION.     221 

intersection  was  evident.  It  was  also  apparent  that  this  could 
not  be  done  without  opposition,  as  the  enemy's  position  would 
thereby  be  turned,  and  his  communication  with  Saltillo  and 
the  Presquina  Grande  route  would  be  intercepted.  On  the 
night  of  the  20th  the  command  bivouacked  on  the  road.  It 
was  cold  and  rainy,  and  there  were  neither  tents  nor  blankets 
to  cover  the  men.  But  they  bore  the  exposure  cheerfully, 
encouraged  with  the  expectation  of  achieving  some  daring 
enterprize  on  the  morrow. 

At  dawn  on  the  following  morning,  General  Worth  disposed 
his  force  for  the  march  in  such  order  as  to  be  prepared  for  an 
attack  at  any  point.  The  Texas  Cavalry,  supported  by  the 
light  companies  of  the  First  Brigade,  under  Captain  C.  F. 
Smith,  (both  extended  or  contracted  according  to  the  ground 
over  which  they  moved)  composed  the  advance  of  the  column. 
Duncan's  light  artillery  and  battalion  heads  of  columns  fol 
lowed.  Pursuing  for  two  miles,  in  this  order,  the  road  wind 
ing  along  the  base  of  the  mountain,  a  turn  around  one  of  its 
projections  brought  immediately  in  view  a  strong  body  of 
Mexican  cavalry  and  infantry.  The  former  instantly  and  im 
petuously  charged,  and  were  received  with  a  well-aimed  and 
deliberate  volley  from  the  rifles  of  the  mounted  Texans.  At  the 
same  instant,  the  infantry  of  the  First  Brigade,  Duncan's  guns, 
and  a  section  of  MackalPs,  opened  upon  them  with  equal 
effect.  Owing  to  the  narrowness  of  the  road,  the  Second 
Brigade  could  not  be  brought  into  action.  While  the  enemy 
thus  maintained  the  engagement  with  his  troops  on  the  road,  a 
battery  was  throwing  shells  from  the  height  above  it.  In 
fifteen  minutes,  however,  both  his  infantry  and  cavalry  gave 
way,  leaving  one  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  among  them 
a  colonel  of  the  Lancers.  The  routed  troops  fled  along  the 
Saltillo  road,  hotly  pressed  by  the  victors,  until  they  entered 
the  gorge  which  unites  all  the  roads  from  Monterey.  Here 
the  pursuit  ceased ;  the  important  point  being  occupied,  which 
intercepted  all  supplies  and  reinforcements  from  that  quarter 
to  the  city.  As  the  division  was  there  exposed  to  the  batte 
ries  on  the  heights,  General  Worth  moved  it  about  half  a 


DIVISION. 

mile  farther,  and  then  directed  his  attention  to  the  means  of 
carrying  by  assault  those  elevated  fortresses,  the  possession  of 
which  was  essential  to  any  closer  operations  against  the  city 
itself. 

While  General  Worth  was  about  to  make  an  assault  upon 
the  works  to  the  right  and  rear  of  the  town,  General  Taylor, 
in  conformity  with  his  own  plans,  as  well  as  a  suggestion  from 
General  Worth,  determined  on  a  diversion  in  his  favour,  by 
ordering  the  other  divisions  to  make  a  strong  demonstration,  to 
the  left  and  centre,  on  the  lower  part  of  the  town.  During  the 
night  of  the  20th,  two  twenty-four-pound  howitzers,  and  a  ten- 
inch  mortar,  under  Captain  Webster,  were  placed  in  battery, 
facing  the  "  citadel,"  in  the  ravine  crossing  the  plain  in 
the  approach  to  the  city.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  21st, 
the  First  Division,  under  General  Twiggs,  composed  of  the 
Third  and  Fourth  Regiments  of  Regular  Infantry,  Captain 
Bragg's  Flying  Artillery,  forming  Lieut.  Col.  Garland's  Bri 
gade,  and  the  First  Regiment  of  Regular  Infantry,  and  the 
Washington  and  Baltimore  battalion  of  volunteers,  forming 
Lieut.  Col.  Wilson's  Brigade,  were  marched  from  the  camp  at 
Walnut  Springs  to  the  ravine  where  the  mortar  battery  was 
planted.  There  the  command  was  formed  for  the  assault,  the 
three  regiments  of  regulars  being  ordered  to  take  possession  of 
some  houses  on  the  right  of  the  enemy's  works,  situated  on  the 
east  of  the  city,  and  the  volunteers  to  advance  upon  the  works 
directly.  General  Butler's  Division,  composed  of  Quitman's 
Brigade,  the  Tennessee  and  Mississippi  Regiments,  and  the 
Ohio  Regiment  of  Hamer's  Brigade  of  volunteers,  having  formed 
in  front  of  the  ravine  soon  after  Twiggs'  Division  moved  from 
that  position  against  the  city,  were  prepared  to  support  the 
latter  in  the  assault. 

The  affair  of  the  day  on  that  side,  commenced  by  a  heavy 
discharge  of  artillery  from  the  citadel,  which  was  ineffectually 
answered  by  the  howitzer  and  mortar  batteries  ;  the  shot  of  the 
latter  falling  short  of  the  town,  while  that  of  the  citadel  fell 
among  Butler's  Division  in  front  of  the  ridge.  The  Division 
of  General  Twiggs  continued  to  advance  under  tremendous 


MOVEMENT    OF    BUTLER'S    DIVISION.    223 

cross  fires  from  the  chain  of  forts  on  the  left  of  the  town.  The 
three  regiments  of  regulars,  with  inflexible  firmness,  moved  to 
their  designated  positions,  gaining  the  town  so  as  to  annoy  the 
enemy's  works  in  that  quarter  on  the  flank  and  rear.  Rivalling 
the  courage  of  these  elder  troops,  and  filled  with  the  enthusiasm 
of  volunteers,  the  Washington  and  Baltimore  battalion  pressed 
onward  in  the  teeth  of  batteries  pouring  ruinous  discharges 
upon  their  ranks.  Bragg's  artillery,  at  the  same  moment,  was 
•worked  within  direct  range  of  the  enemy's  heavy  guns. 

When  the  battalion  had  approached  close  to  one  of  the  forts, 
the  men  were  ordered  to  lie  down  for  momentary  respite  from 
its  guns.  These,  however,  were  soon  depressed,  when  a  por 
tion  of  the  command,  led  on  by  their  officers,  rushed  into  a 
narrow  street,  having  but  few  houses  on  either  side.  Here 
they  were  raked  by  three  batteries  within  a  hundred  yards,  and 
by  the  twelve-pounders  of  the  large  work,  which  enfiladed 
their  column  during  the  whole  period  of  its  progress.  At  the 
intersection  of  the  streets,  high  and  strong  barricades  of  solid 
masonry  had  been  erected,  and  from  these  and  the  tops  of  the 
houses,  thousands  of  smaller  arms  rained  a  deadly  shower  upon 
them.  Numbers  of  the  regulars  and  detachments  of  the  volun 
teers  were  similarly  engaged  at  other  points  in  the  same  quarter 
of  the  town. 

For  about  an  hour  this  contest  had  proceeded  with  unabated 
fury,  when  Butler's  division  was  ordered  to  sustain  the  advance. 
His  men,  already  formed  in  line,  had  watched  with  eager  in 
terest  the  progress  of  their  comrades,  burning  for  the  moment 
when  they  should  be  summoned  to  share  in  the  strife.  The 
Kentucky  Regiment,  Col.  Ormsby,  being  left  unwillingly  to 
protect  the  howitzer  and  mortar  batteries,  Quitman's  Brigade, 
(the  Tennessee  Regiment,  Col.  Campbell,  and  the  Mississippi, 
Col.  Davis,)  and  Col.  Mitchell's  Ohio  Regiment,  forming  alone 
Hamer's  Brigade,  moved  ofT,  the  former  to  the  left,  to  support 
the  regulars  of  Twiggs'  Division,  and  the  latter  to  support 
Bragg's  battery,  which  had  already  lost  about  twenty  horses, 
and  was  in  danger  of  being  captured.  With  emulous  cheers, 
defying  the  roar  of  the  citadel's  ordnance,  the  two  commands 


224  THE    FIRST    WORK    CARRIED. 

sped  on  to  their  terrible  duty  and  their  course  for  full  a  mile, 
exposed  to  its  unceasing  fire.  The  Ohio  volunteers  reached 
the  suburbs,  there  to  be  greeted,  as  their  friends  had  been 
before  them,  with  the  raking  discharges  of  batteries  in  front, 
and  on  both  flanks.  Breasting  the  iron  torrent,  and  unable  to 
reach  an  enemy  behind  the  house-walls  and  barriers,  they  still 
struggled  on,  passing  gardens  and  ditches,  which  exposed  them 
to  the  full  play  of  both  artillery  and  musketry.  At  last,  some 
of  the  foremost,  mounting  a  wall,  came  close  upon  a  corps  of 
the  enemy,  and  drove  it  to  a  battery  farther  in  the  town.  At 
this  point,  opportunity, was  afforded  of  returning  their  shot 
with  effect, — but  the  contest  was  unequal,  our  men  being  ex 
posed  upon  the  wall,  and  the  Mexicans  protected  by  their 
breastworks.  At  this  point,  General  Butler  was  met  by  Major 
Mansfield,  who  had  conducted  a  command  of  Twiggs'  Division 
against  one  of  the  batteries,  and  who  advised  the  general  to 
advance  no  farther,  as  he  would  come  within  range  of  an  irre 
sistible  fire  from  other  batteries  commanding  the  streets. 
General  Taylor  was  not  far  in  the  rear  of  this  spot, — exposed 
constantly  to  the  enemy's  fire, — and  learning  this  fact  from 
General  Butler,  ordered  the  Ohio  men  to  retire. 

Meanwhile,  the  Tennessee  and  the  Mississippi  volunteers 
had  reached  a  position  on  the  north-east  of  the  city.  At  this 
point,  was  a  strong  fort,  the  rear  of  which  Colonel  Garland  had 
endeavoured  to  gain,  but  was  met  with  such  a  severe  fire, 
which  could  not  be  returned,  that  he  was  compelled  to  retire. 
At  the  moment,  however,  that  the  Mississippians  and  Tennes- 
seeans  were  coming  on,  Captain  Backus,  of  the  1st  regular  in 
fantry,  with  parts  of  his  own  and  other  companies  of  that 
regiment,  had  mounted  the  roof  of  a  tannery  commanding  the 
fort,  and  was  pouring  into  it  an  effectual  discharge  of  musketry. 
Several  companies  of  the  Fourth  Infantry,  advancing  within 
close  range  of  its  guns,  received  a  terrible  fire,  which  instantly 
killed  and  wounded  one-third  of  their  number,  and  caused  them 
to  fall  back.  At  this  juncture,  Quitman's  volunteers,  the  Ten- 
nesseeans  being  well  in  advance,  pressed  forward,  and  pre 
serving  their  line  under  a  fire  which  made  constant  breaches  in 


SEVERE    FIRE    OF    THE    ENEMY.  225 

its  living  wall,  rushed  upon  the  works,  and  carried  them  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet.  A  strong,  stone  building  in  the  rear  was 
taken  at  the  same  time.  The  conduct  of  these  two  regiments, 
in  this  assault,  was  distinguished  equally  by  the  hot-blooded 
recklessness  of  youth,  and  the  steady  bravery  of  veterans. 
Whether  in  approaching  the  enemy's  batteries,  when  the  balls 
were  hurled  in  torrents  upon  them,  or  when  mounting  the 
barriers  to  engage  their  defenders  hand  to  hand,  these  gallant 
troops  were  alike  heedless  of  every  result  save  the  fulfilment  of 
the  immediate  task  assigned  them. 

In  the  fort,  five  pieces  of  artillery,  a  large  amount  of  ammu 
nition,  and  thirty  prisoners,  including  three  officers,  were  cap 
tured.  But  the  prize  was  purchased  at  a  fearful  cost  of  blood, 
and  much  more  was  yet  to  be  paid  before  other  possessions  of 
the  enemy  could  be  acquired. 

As  soon  as  General  Taylor  learned  that  this  fort  was  carried, 
he  countermanded  the  order  for  Butler's  division  to  withdraw, 
and  ordered  that  work,  and  other  defences  on  the  side  of  the 
town  which  had  been  already  gained,  to  be  maintained. 
Hamer's  brigade,  the  Ohio  volunteers,  now  moved  farther  to 
the  left,  towards  another  strong  fort  in  the  line  of  its  eastern 
defences.  It  required  half  an  hour  to  come  within  close  range 
of  this  work,  during  which  the  regiment  was  exposed  to  a  de 
structive  fire,  from  three  different  batteries  concentrated  upon 
them.  It  was  resolved  to  attempt  to  carry  the  fort  by  storm, 
when  General  Butler  was  wounded,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
Colonel  Mitchell,  commanding  the  regiment.  A  murderous 
discharge  of  musketry  swept  the  ranks  continually,  and  the 
attempt  was  abandoned,  the  force  being  withdrawn  to  a  posi 
tion  of  less  exposure. 

The  battery  of  the  fort  captured  by  Quitman's  brigade  was 
now  turned  upon  this  second  work ;  and,  under  its  cover,  the 
artillery  of  Bragg  and  Ridgely  was  served,  supported  by  parts 
of  several  regiments  scattered  during  the  general  assault.  Sub 
sequently,  Captain  Webster's  howitzer  was  made  to  bear  from 
the  captured  fort  upon  the  second  fort,  against  which  the  Ohio 
volunteers  had  made  their  daring  but  unsuccessful  movement 


226      GENERAL  TAYLOR  EXPOSED. 

The  latter,  on  retiring  to  the  skirts  of  the  town,  at  a  point 
where  a  portion  of  the  Mississippi  regiment  had  also  returned, 
found  themselves  dispersed  on  the  plain,  so  as  to  present  ap 
parently  an  object  of  easy  attack  from  a  body  of  lancers  then 
in  view.  The  latter,  accordingly,  dashed  towards  them,  but 
not  in  time  to  prevent  their  forming  an  imperfect  front  so  as  to 
meet  the  charge.  On  came  the  cavalry,  which  is  the  boast  of 
Mexico,  striking  with  their  lances,  as  they  swept  over  the  field, 
the  Americans  who  lay  wounded  and  helpless  upon  it,  until 
within  short  range  of  the  volunteers'  muskets,  when  a  volley 
from  the  line  checked  their  career,  bearing  down  the  foremost 
horses  and  riders,  and  driving  the  rest  in  disorder  back  to  their 
position. 

During  this,  and  other  independent  scenes  in  the  drama  of 
the  day,  parties  and  individuals  of  all  regiments  were  in  the 
streets,  charging  on  the  barricades,  or  returning  the  inces 
sant  fire  of  the  enemy's  batteries  and  lighter  arms  whenever 
an  object  for  effectual  aim  was  presented.  General  Taylor, 
who  was  almost  constantly  within  range  of  the  flying  shot, 
ordered  as  many  of  the  First,  Third,  and  Fourth  Infantry,  or 
the  Baltimore  Battalion,  as  could  be  collected,  again  to  enter 
the  town,  and  carry,  if  possible,  the  second  battery,  against 
which  Captain  Webster's  howitzer  was  then  directed.  Of  this 
mixed  force,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Garland  took  the  command, 
and  a  gallant  effort  was  made  to  achieve  the  object.  Receiving 
a  fire  from  every  direction,  it  pressed  on  to  gain  the  rear  of  the 
work,  and  taking  a  position,  maintained  it  for  some  time  with 
the  aid  of  Ridgely's  battery.  But  the  work  proved  too  strong 
and  well  defended  at  every  approach  to  be  stormed  with  suc 
cess,  and  the  command  was  withdrawn.  During  this  move 
ment,  Captain  Bragg's  artillery,  supported  by  Captain  Miller 
with  a  force  of  regulars  and  volunteers,  dispersed  a  body  of 
cavalry  making  a  demonstration  in  front  of  the  town. 

Hours  passed,  while  these  various  and  daring  exertions  were 
made  to  obtain  possession  of  the  chain  of  fortifications  on  the 
east  and  south-east  of  the  city.  They  were  defended  by  the 
Mexicans  with  constancy  and  valour,  but  with  every  advantage 


EFFECT    OF    TAYLOR'S    MOVEMENTS.     227 

over  the  assailants  in  numbers,  position,  and  arms.  The 
latter  were  subjected,  in  all  their  movements,  to  terrible 
cross  and  direct  fires,  hurling  upon  them  a  continual  stream  of 
heavy  shot,  grape,  and  musket  balls.  Yet  there  was  no  waver 
ing,  no  abatement  of  ardour.  Volunteers  and  regulars,  the 
men  by  whom  the  clash  of  arms  was  then  first  heard,  and  they 
who  had  chosen  arms  as  a  profession,  fought  and  fell  side  by 
side,  scores  on  scores,  and  yet  all  who  stood,  still  stood  firmly, 
still  strove  on,  undaunted  by  the  slaughter  which  raged  around 
them. 

The  main  object,  had  in  view  by  General  Taylor  in  the 
assault  upon  the  east  side  of  the  city,  had  so  far  been  entirely 
accomplished.  A  long-continued  diversion  had  been  made  in 
favour  of  General  Worth's  movements  in  the  opposite  quarter. 
To  them  we  now  revert. 

After  having,  early  in  the  morning,  repulsed  the  enemy's 
lancers  posted  at  the  spur  of  the  mountain,  and  advanced  to  a 
position  on  the  Saltillo  road  about  half  a  mile  west  of  the  gorge, 
where  the  several  roads  from  the  north-eastern  valley  unite,  a 
further  reconnoissance  was  made  of  the  fortifications  on  the 
heights  on  each  side.  A  brief  mention  has  already  been  made 
of  these  works,  but  a  further  description  is  necessary  to  a  clear 
understanding  of  the  operations  of  General  Worth's  division. 

The  Creek  or  Arroyo  San  Juan,  which  sweeps,  with  the  line 
of  the  mountain  base,  around  the  southern  and  eastern  sides 
of  the  city,  has  its  source  to  the  south-west,  and  passing  through 
the  great  gorge  of  the  range  in  that  direction,  defines  the  line 
of  the  road  to  Saltillo,  which  is  constructed  on  its  northern 
margin.  From  this  creek,  at  a  point  about  a  mile  southwest 
of  the  city,  and  facing  towards  it,  may  be  seen  about  six  hun 
dred  yards  to  the  right,  a  height  called  Federacion,  which  was 
surmounted  by  a  strong  redout ;  and  on  the  same  ridge,  half 
a  mile  nearer  the  city,  another  height  crowned  by  a  work  called 
"Fort  Soldado."  On  the  left  of  the  creek,  opposite  these 
elevations,  rises  Mitre  Mountain ;  on  a  prominence  of  which, 
called  Independencia,  nearly  due  north  of  Federacion,  and 
about  half  a  mile  distant  from  it  in  an  air  line,  was  a  third 
20 


228         ASSAULT    ON    FEDERACION     HILL. 

fortified  work.  On  a  lower  point  of  the  same  ridge,  form 
ing  Independencia,  and  in  a  south-eastern  direction,  about 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  nearer  to  the  city,  stands  the  Bishop's  Pa 
lace.  These  four  works,  two  on  each  side  of  the  Saltillo  road, 
were  reared  on  eminences  sufficiently  lofty  and  precipitous  to 
be  difficult  of  access,  while  they  thoroughly  commanded  the 
deep  valley  between  them,  and  the  slopes  on  every  other  side. 
The  first  progress  of  General  Worth  was  around  the  south 
western  base  of  Independencia,  which  brought  his  command 
between  it  and  Federacion.  It  was  determined  that  the  first 
effort  of  his  command  should  be  made  against  the  fort  on  the 
latter,  the  possession  of  all  the  heights  being  vital  to  the  ad 
vance  of  the  whole  army  on  Saltillo.  At  noon,  on  the  21st, 
he  ordered  four  companies  of  the  Regular  Artillery  Battalion, 
under  Captain  C.  F.  Smith,  and  six  companies — Green's, 
McGowan's,  Gillespie's,  Chandlis',  Ballowes',  and  McCulloch's, 
of  the  Texas  Rifles,  under  Major  Chevalier,  (both  commands 
numbering  about  three  hundred  men,  and  acting  in  co-opera 
tion,)  to  storm  the  batteries  first  on  Federacion  Hill,  and  then 
to  carry  Fort  Soldado.  During  the  morning  the  enemy's  guns 
had  not  been  idle,  but  when  the  movement  for  this  assault 
commenced,  they  were  served  with  redoubled  zeal.  Captain 
Smith  led  his  men  to  the  foot  of  the  hill,  whence,  looking  up, 
the  toil  of  an  unopposed  and  unencumbered  ascent  might  well 
daunt  common  energies.  Upward  however  they  went,  breast 
ing  sometimes  the  plunging  discharges  of  the  enemy's  batteries 
high  above  them,  and  sometimes  screened  for  a  moment  by  a 
projecting  rock,  or  a  cluster  of  underwood.  Occasionally 
they  paused  to  return  the  fire,  and  in  a  moment  were  again 
climbing  the  rugged  and  perilous  steep,  from  whose  frowning 
crest  balls  of  iron-and  copper  rained  upon  them.  At  the  same 
time  bodies  of  Mexican  light  troops  sallied  from  the  works  on 
both  adjacent  hills,  and  forming  on  every  favourable  point, 
seconded  their  heavy  guns  with  volleys  of  musketry. 

At  this  moment,  the  enemy  menacing  Smith's  command 
with  an  overwhelming  superiority  of  numbers,  Captain  Miles, 
with  the  Seventh  Infantry,  was  ordered  to  his  support.  The 


FEDERACION    AND    SOLDADO    CARRIED.   229 

firing  now  became  general,  as  the  ascent  of  the  storming  party 
brought  them  within  more  effectual  range  of  the  forces  above 
them.  Other  reinforcements  of  the  latter  being  displayed 
around  their  works,  General  Worth  directed  General  Smith, 
with  the  Fifth  Infantry,  under  Major  Scott,  and  the  Louisiana 
Volunteers,  under  Captain  Blanchard,  to  the  further  aid  of  the 
troops  engaged.  This  third  command  pressed  eagerly  on  to 
the  assault ;  and  General  Smith  perceiving  the  practicability  of 
storming  Fort  Soldado  simultaneously  with  the  attack  already 
commenced  on  the  other  work,  divided  the  supporting  force, 
and  directed  the  Fifth  and  Seventh,  and  the  Louisiana  Volun 
teers  against  Soldado.  Captain  Smith's  men  continuing  to 
mount  the  Federacion  height,  drove  the  enemy  up  and  back 
upon  the  entrenchment,  the  contest  becoming  closer  and  closer, 
until,  charging  with  the  bayonet,  they  cleared  the  breastwork, 
and  while  its  routed  defenders  fled  precipitately  down  the  op 
posite  side  of  the  hill,  tore  down  their  standard,  and  raised  the 
first  American  flag  that  ever  waved  in  the  mountain  breezes  of 
Mexico.  Loud  and  heart-stirring  were  the  cheers  which  hailed 
it,  echoed  from  the  valley  by  the  gallant  troops,  then  rushing 
up  to  plant  a  kindred  banner  on  the  neighbouring  height. 

Immediately,  the  piece  of  ordnance  (a  nine-pounder)  found 
in  the  captured  works  was  directed  against  Fort  Soldado,  and 
the  main  body  of  Captain  Smith's  command  then  started  in 
support  of  the  other  command.  On  the  latter  went,  as  they 
began  the  ascent  receiving  in  their  midst  a  tempest  of  grape 
and  canister.  With  good  will,  however,  they  emulated  the 
gallantry  of  their  friends ;  Captain  Hays,  with  about  fifty 
Texas  rifles,  joining  in  the  work.  Conquering  the  acclivity  by 
the  aid  of  every  stone  that  offered  a  foothold,  and  every  bush 
within  grasp,  they  approached  the  Mexican  lines  near  enough 
to  use  their  muskets  with  effect.  Loading  and  firing  as  they 
ascended,  unchecked  for  an  instant  by  the  fire  from  above, 
they  rose  at  last  to  within  fifty  yards  of  the  wall,  and  then  with 
a  shout  drove  the  enemy  from  it,  and  turned  upon  the  confused 
and  fleeing  mass  the  artillery  which  themselves  had  loaded. 
Having  served  this  purpose  for  the  moment,  it  was  then  di- 


230  LOSSES    ON    THE    FIRST    DAY. 

reeled,  together  with  the  gun  on  Federacion  Hill,  against  the 
Bishop's  Palace.  The  fire  was  returned  from  the  latter  with 
round  shot  and  shell ;  the  valley  of  the  Saltillo  road  separating 
th€  works  only  six  hundred  yards  from  the  Palace.  In  these 
brilliant  exploits,  the  officers  already  mentioned,  and  every 
subordinate  and  man,  behaved  with  admirable  daring.  The 
whole  force  against  both  fortifications  did  not  exceed  six  or 
seven  hundred  men,  who,  reckless  of  opposing  numbers,  and 
of  their  superior  and  strong  position,  charged  up  to  them  and 
swept  them  from  their  lofty  perch. 

The  sun  was  descending  when  the  second  fort  had  been 
carried,  and  about  the  same  time,  on  the  same  side  of  the 
creek,  at  the  south-eastern  extreme  of  the  city,  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  having  been  previously  checked  by  the  Ohio  and  a 
part  of  the  Mississippi  regiments,  made  a  demonstration  against 
the  troops  exposed  in  that  quarter.  Ridgely  brought  his  light 
battery  to  bear  on  them,  and  scattered  them  until  they  sought 
shelter  in  the  city. 

After  this  no  important  movement  was  effected  in  any  direc 
tion.  The  approach  of  night  and  a  severe  rain  storm  arrested 
the  terrible  labours  of  the  day — terrible  to  both  parties.  The 
divisions  on  the  east  of  the  town  had  lost  many  officers  of  great 
merit,  and  many  more  men,  who,  if  indomitable  energy  and 
valour  were  the  test,  should  have  also  been  chiefs,  not  followers. 
Among  the  notable  dead  were,  Captain  Williams  of  the  topo 
graphical  engineers,  who  aided  heroically  in  directing  the  as 
sault  upon  the  first  redout ;  Lieutenants  Terrett  and  Dilworth, 
of  the  First  Infantry  ;  Lieutenant  Colonel  Watson,  of  the  Bal 
timore  Battalion,  one  of  the  first  to  fall  while  cheering  on  his 
men,  under  the  raking  cross  fires  of  the  street  works ;  Brevet 
Major  Barbour,  of  the  Third  Infantry,  and  Lieutenants  Irwin 
and  Hazlett  of  the  same  regiment ;  Captain  Allen  and  Lieu 
tenant  Putnam,  of  the  Tennessee  Volunteers,  which  indomit 
able  corps  left,  besides  these  officers,  nearly  half  its  numbers 
dead  or  wounded  in  the  streets  and  fields  ;  Lieutenant  Woods, 
of  the  Second  Infantry,  who  had  distinguished  himself  also  at 
Resaca  de  la  Palma;  Lieutenant  Hoskins,  of  the  Fourth 


CLOSE    OF    THE    FIRST    DAY.  231 

Infantry,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hett,  of  the  Ohio  Volunteers, 
a  regiment  worthy  of  the  officer,  and  which  freely  mingled  its 
blood  with  his.  Nearly  four  hundred  of  all  the  troops,  Regu 
lars  and  Volunteers,  engaged  east  of  the  town,  were  killed  or 
wounded.  The  avenues  at  times  were  Choked  with  their 
bodies,  where  guns  of  the  forts  had  centred  on  them.  The 
Kentucky  Regiment  was  not  brought  into  the  action  farther 
than  to  support  the  field  battery  posted  in  front  of  the  citadel. 
It  stood  ready  several  times  to  receive  a  threatened  charge  of 
a  large  body  of  lancers,  and  rendered  efficient  aid  in  main 
taining  the  demonstration  in  front  of  the  town. 

General  Worth's  loss  was  comparatively  very  small,  owing  to 
the  less  exposed  position  of  his  command.  How  they  per 
formed  the  tasks  assigned  them  has  been  seen.  Thirty-six 
hours  had  they  been  without  food,  one  night  in  the  rain  with 
out  shelter  or  blankets,  and  now  exposed  on  the  coming  of  a 
second  to  a  violent  storm,  and  equally  unprotected. 

The  divisions  of  Butler  and  Twiggs,  under  the  immediate 
command  of  General  Taylor,  were  ordered  back  to  the  camp, 
except  the  Regulars  of  the  First  Division  and  Ridgely's  battery, 
left  to  garrison  the  captured  works,  under  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Garland,  and  one  battalion  of  the  First  Kentucky  Regiment, 
detailed  to  work  at  the  entrenchments  through  the  night,  and 
strengthen  the  positions  acquired  on  the  eastern  part  of  the 
city.  So  weaned  were  all  the  troops  with  the  labours  of  the 
day,  that  a  witness  relates,  of  those  ordered  back  to  the  camp, 
many  with  difficulty  reached  it. 

Throughout  the  day  General  Taylor  was  constantly  near  or 
on  the  ground  of  actual  conflict,  sharing  its  dangers,  and  by 
his  calm  bravery  giving  effectual  virtue  to  his  directions. 
General  Worth,  apprehending  a  surprise,  was  obliged  to  keep 
most  of  his  force  on  the  watch  through  the  night  of  the  21st. 
The  few  who  sought  rest  had  no  shelter,  and  lay  down  under 
the  heavy  fall  of  rain,  with  their  arms  in  their  hands.  The  com 
mands  in  the  eastern  quarter  of  the  city  enjoyed  no  better  pro 
tection  or  repose.  Thus  ended  the  labours  of  the  first  day 
before  Monterey.  * 

20* 

• 


232  INDEPENDENCIA    CARRIED. 

CHAPTER   XIII. 

Independencia  carried — Sortie  from  the  Palace — Enemy  repulsed  and  Palace 
taken — Operations  on  the  Eastern  Quarter — Progress  towards  the  Heart  of 
the  Town — Worth's  Progress  on  Opposite  Side — Command  of  the  Main 
Plaza — Flag  of  Truce — Suspension  of  the  Attack — Taylor's  Despatch — Cor 
respondence  with  Ampudia  and  the  Governor — Taylor's  Detailed  Report  of 
the  Siege — Extract  from  Worth's  Report — Comments  on  the  Action — Con 
ference  between  Ampudia  and  Taylor — Commissioners  on  the  Capitulation 
appointed — Proceedings  of  the  Commission — Terms  of  Capitulation — Report 
of  Killed  and  Wounded. 

GENERAL  Worth  had  determined  that  the  operations  of  the 
22d,in  the  rear  of  the  city,  should  commence  against  the  work 
surmounting  Independencia  height  and  the  Bishop's  Palace, 
making  the  first  assault  on  the  former.  This  duty  was  assigned 
to  one  company  of  the  Third  Regulars  (artillery  battalion),  two 
companies  of  the  Fourth,  three  companies  of  the  Eighth,  under 
Captain  Screvin,  and  two  hundred  Riflemen,  under  Colonel  Hays 
and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Walker,  the  whole  command  under 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Childs,  conducted  by  Captain  Sanders,  of 
the  military,  and  Lieutenant  Meade,  of  the  topographical  engi 
neers.  At  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  this  force 
was  in  motion.  The  rain  and  darkness  favoured  its  ap 
proach  to  the  enemy's  position.  The  ascent  of  the  hill  was 
commenced  and  conducted  without  molestation.  As  the  ac 
clivity  was  gradually  overcome,  the  gray  light  of  morning 
began  to  struggle  through  the  mist  which  clouded  its  crest. 
Quietly  and  steadily  the  command  ascended  until  within  a 
hundred  yards  of  the  top,  when  a  body  of  the  enemy  posted 
among  the  rocks  and  bushes  came  full  in  view.  Expecting 
an  attack  they  had  awaited  it.  They  fired  and  retreated,  while 
assailants  hastened  up,  reserving  their  fire  until  close  upon  the 
redout,  when  delivering  one  general  and  deadly  volley,  they 
dashed  into  it  with  the  bayonet,  while  the  Mexicans  fled  down 
the  other  side.  Just  then,  as  the  coming  sun  streaked  the 
white  mists  of  the  mountain  peaks,  the  emulous  flag  of  the 
Union  floated  above  the  third  of  the  enemy's  lofty  strongholds. 

It  was  found  that  the  guns  of  this  post  had  been  removed  in 
the  night  to  the  Bishop's  Palace,  then  the  only  remaining  posi- 


THE    BISHOP'S    PALACE    CARRIED.         233 

tion  of  the  Mexicans  on  the  heights  in  the  rear  of  the  town. 
The  high  walls  of  massive  masonry,  defended  by  a  howitzer, 
and  two  pieces  of  ordnance,  besides  a  heavy  force  of  musketry, 
forbade  any  attempt  to  carry  the  latter  work  without  the  aid  of 
artillery.  To  procure  this,  Lieutenant  Rowland,  of  Duncan's 
Artillery,  was  ordered  from  the  main  camp  with  a  twelve-pound 
howitzer,  and  so  great  was  his  despatch,  that,  in  two  hours, 
with  the  aid  of  fifty  men  from  the  line  under  Captain  Sanders, 
selected  for  the  purpose  of  pointing  out  the  least  difficult  route, 
that  enterprizing  and  gallant  officer,  (as  he  is  justly  termed  in 
the  language  of  the  General's  official  report,)  had  ascended  the 
broken  and  steep  acclivity  of  Independencia  hill,  and  planted 
his  gun  in  position.  From  it,  under  cover  of  the  breastwork, 
an  effectual  fire  was  immediately  directed  against  the  Palace, 
distant  about  four  hundred  yards  on  the  next  point  of  the  ridge. 
While  this  battery  was  thus  brought  to  bear,  part  of  the  forces 
having  possession  of  the  heights  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
road  were  ordered  over.  They  consisted  of  the  Fifth  Infantry, 
Major  Scott,  and  the  Louisiana  volunteers,  Captain  Blanchard, 
and  reached  the  position  about  8  o'clock. 

The  enemy  made  several  demonstrations  of  an  attempt  to 
regain  the  work  last  captured.  At  length,  a  large  body  of 
lancers  swept  around  and  up  the  hill  with  that  intent.  A  sortie, 
by  a  strong  force,  was  also  made  from  the  Palace.  General 
Worth  anticipated  the  movement.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Childs 
had  advanced  two,  companies  of  light  troops,  under  Captain 
Vinton,  which  skirmished  with  the  enemy's  advance.  The 
main  body  was  drawn  up,  with  Hays'  and  Walker's  Rifles,  on 
the  flanks.  As  the  enemy  rapidly  advanced,  the  light  troops 
retired  in  good  order,  and  maintained  a  fire,  until  a  general 
discharge  from  the  whole  line  was  ordered.  The  Mexicans 
were  at  once  thrown  into  confusion,  and  fled,  pursued  by  the 
whole  force,  under  Colonel  Childs,  beyond  the  Palace,  which 
the  latter  then  entered,  taking  possession  of  it,  and  the  fort  ad 
joining  it.  Down  the  enemy  rushed  towards  the  city,  crowd 
ing  a  street  which  extended  to  the  Palace  ;  and,  as  they  fled, 
the  guns  of  their  last  mountain  fastness  were  turned  upon  them. 


234   THE  EASTERN  FORTS  EVACUATED. 

Thus  terminated  the  complete  investment  of  the  works  com 
manding  the  rear  of  the  city,  and  the  communication  with  the 
country  to  the  south-west.  The  honour  of  the  achievement 
was  enhanced  by  the  fact,  that  it  was  attended  with  but  trifling 
sacrifice  on  the  part  of  the  victors.  Prudence  had  gone  hand 
in  hand  with  courage,  even  in  the  boldest  enterprizes  of  the  two 
eventful  days. 

General  Worth's  next  care  was  to  place  the  captured  guns 
in  positions  on  the  heights  to  reach  the  great  plaza  of  the  town  ; 
and,  except  a  necessary  garrison  for  Independencia  hill,  the  di 
vision  was  concentrated  at  the  Bishop's  Palace,  to  be  prepared 
the  next  day  for  an  assault  on  the  city  from  that  quarter. 

The  day,  the  22d,  which  had  so  well  employed  Worth's 
Division,  was  less  actively  spent  by  the  wearied  troops  of  the 
other  division  in  the  eastern  quarter  of  the  town.  According 
to  the  official  report,  the  citadel  and  other  works  continued  to 
fire  at  parties  exposed  to  their  range,  and  at  the  work  now  oc 
cupied  by  our  troops.  The  guard  left  in  it  the  preceding  night, 
except  Captain  Ridgely's  company,  was  relieved  at  mid-day 
by  General  Quitman's  brigade.  Captain  Bragg's  battery  was 
thrown  under  cover  in  front  of  the  town,  to  repel  any  demon 
stration  of  cavalry  in  that  quarter.  During  the  night  of  the  22d 
the  enemy  evacuated  nearly  all  his  defences  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  city.  This  was  reported  to  General  Taylor  early  in  the 
morning  of  the  23d,  by  General  Quitman,  who  had  already 
meditated  an  assault  upon  those  works.  He  immediately  sent 
instructions  to  that  officer,  leaving  it  to  his  discretion  to  enter 
the  city,  covering  his  men  by  the  houses  and  walls,  and  ad 
vance  carefully  so  far  as  he  might  deem  it  prudent.  After 
ordering  the  remainder  of  the  troops  as  a  reserve,  under 
the  orders  of  Brigadier  General  Twiggs,  General  Taylor  re 
paired  to  the  abandoned  works,  and  discovered  that  a  portion 
of  General  Quitman's  brigade  had  entered  the  town,  and  were 
successfully  forcing  their  way  towards  the  principal  plaza.  He 
then  ordered  up  the  second  regiment  of  Texas  mounted  volun 
teers,  who  entered  the  city,  dismounted,  and,  under  the  imme 
diate  orders  of  General  Henderson,  co-operated  with  General 


APPROACH    TO    THE    MAIN    PLAZA.        235 

Quitman's  brigade.  Captain  Bragg's  battery  was  also  ordered 
up,  supported  by  the  Third  Infantry,  and  after  firing  for  some 
time  at  the  Cathedral,  a  portion  of  it  was  likewise  thrown  into 
the  city.  The  American  troops  advanced  from  house  to  house, 
and  from  square  to  square,  until  they  reached  a  street  but  one 
square  in  rear  of  the  principal  plaza,  in  and  near  which  the 
enemy's  force  was  mainly  concentrated.  This  advance  was 
conducted  vigorously,  but  with  due  caution,  and  although  de 
structive  to  the  enemy,  was  attended  with  but  small  loss  on 
our  part.  Captain  Ridgely,  in  the  mean  time,  had  served  a 
captured  piece  in  the  first  battery  against  the  city,  until  the  ad 
vance  of  our  men  rendered  it  imprudent  to  fire  in  the  direction 
of  the  Cathedral.  General  Taylor  was  satisfied  that  his  troops 
could  operate  successfully  in  the  city,  and  that  the  enemy  had 
retired  from  the  lower  portion  of  it  to  make  a  stand  behind  his 
barricades.  As  General  Quitman's  brigade  had  been  on  duty 
the  previous  night,  he  determined  to  withdraw  the  troops  to 
the  evacuated  works,  and  concert  with  General  Worth  a  com 
bined  attack  upon  the  town.  The  troops  accordingly  fell  back 
deliberately,  in  good  order,  and  resumed  their  original  posi 
tions,  General  Quitman's  brigade  being  relieved  after  nightfall 
by  that  of  General  Hamer. 

When  General  Worth  heard,  on  the  morning  of  the  23d, 
the  heavy  and  continuous  fire  from  the  opposite  side  of  the 
city,  he  concluded  that  a  main  attack  was  in  progress  under 
the  direction  of  General  Taylor,  and  that  orders  for  his  co 
operation  had  miscarried,  owing  to  the  long  circuit  over  which 
it  was  necessary  to  carry  them.  His  own  intention  was  to 
have  prosecuted  his  success  during  that  night,  but  he  instantly 
gave  orders  to  this  effect.  To  quote  the  clear  and  concise 
language  of  Worth's  despatch,  two  columns  of  attack  were 
organized  to  move  along  the  two  principal  streets  leading  from 
one  position  in  direction  of  the  great  Plaza,  composed  of  light 
troops  slightly  extended,  with  orders  to  mask  the  men  when 
ever  practicable ;  avoid  those  points  swept  by  the  enemy's 
artillery ;  to  press  on  to  the  first  Plaza  Capilla ;  to  get  hold  of 
the  end  of  streets  beyond ;  then  enter  the  buildings,  and  by 


236          COMMAND    OF    THE    MAIN    PLAZA. 

means  of  picks  and  bars,  break  through  the  longitudinal  sec 
tion  of  the  walls ;  work  from  house  to  house,  and  ascending 
the  roofs,  to  place  themselves  upon  the  same  breast-height 
with  the  enemy.  Light  artillery,  by  sections,  and  pieces  under 
Duncan,  Roland,  Mackall,  Martin,  Hays,  Irons,  Clarke,  and 
Curd,  followed  at  suitable  intervals,  covered  by  reserves  to 
guard  the  pieces,  and  the  whole  operation  against  the  pro 
bable  enterprizes  of  cavalry  upon  our  left.  This  was  effectu 
ally  done  by  seizing  and  commanding  the  head  of  every  cross 
street.  The  streets  were,  at  different  and  well  chosen  points, 
barricaded  by  heavy  masonry  walls,  with  embrasures  for  one 
or  more  guns,  and  in  every  instance  well  supported  by  cross 
batteries.  These  arrangements  of  defence  gave  to  the  opera 
tions  at  this  moment  a  complicated  character,  demanding 
much  care  and  precaution ;  but  the  work  went  on  steadily, 
simultaneously,  and  successfully.  About  the  time  Worth's 
assault  commenced,  the  fire  ceased  from  Taylor's  force  in  the 
opposite  quarter.  Disengaged  on  the  one  side,  the  enemy  was 
enabled  to  shift  men  and  guns  to  Worth's  quarters,  as  was 
soon  manifested  by  accumulation  of  fire.  At  dark  his  com 
mand  had  worked  through  the  walls  and  squares,  and  reached 
to  within  one  block  of  the  great  Plaza,  leaving  a  covered  way 
in  its  rear ;  carried  a  large  building  which  towered  over  the 
principal  defences,  and  during  the  night  and  ensuing  morning 
crowned  the  roof  with  two  howitzers  and  a  six-pounder.  As 
the  columns  of  attack  were  moving  from  the  Palace  hill,  Major 
Munroe,  chief  of  artillery,  arrived  with  a  ten-inch  mortar, 
which  was  immediately  advanced  to  the  Plaza  Chapel,  put  in 
position,  masked  by  the  church  wall,  its  bed  adjusted  as  ra 
pidly  as  possible,  and  by  sunset  opened  upon  the  great  square. 
At  this  period,  our  troops  had  worked  to  within  one  square  of 
the  Plaza.  The  exact  position  of  their  comrades  on  the  oppo 
site  side  was  not  known,  and  the  distance  of  the  position  to 
be  assailed  from  the  bomb  battery  but  conjectural :  eight  hun 
dred  yards  was  assumed,  and  fuze  and  charge  regulated  ac 
cordingly.  The  first  shell  fell  a  little  short  of  the  point  on 
which  it  was  directed,  and  beside  our  troops.  A  slight  in- 


-/. 

CESSATION    OF    ARMS.  237 

crease  of  the  projecting  charge  gave  exact  results.  The  whole 
service  was  managed  by  Major  Munroe  most  admirably;  and, 
combined  with  other  operations,  exercised  a  decided  influence 
upon  the  final  results.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  23d, 
Major  Brown,  artillery  battalion,  was  despatched  with  a  select 
command,  and  one  section  of  MackalPs  battery,  under  Lieu 
tenant  Irons,  to  occupy  a  stone  mill  and  adjacent  grounds, 
constituting  one  league  in  advance  the  narrow  gorge,  near  Sta. 
Catarina.  The  Major  took  possession,  repulsed  the  enemy's 
picquets,  and  was  preparing  his  command  to  resist  any  attack, 
when  he  received  orders  to  retrace  his  steps,  enter  the  city,  and 
form  the  main  reserve  to  the  assaulting  columns.  He  came  up 
in  good  time  and  good  order,  and  was  at  once  under  fire. 

It  has  been  seen  that  Generals  Taylor  and  Worth  were  thus 
advancing  close  to  the  centre  of  the  town  from  opposite  direc 
tions.  General  Taylor,  after  withdrawing  his  troops  from  their 
advanced  position  near  the  Grand  Plaza,  as  has  been  stated, 
returned  to  his  camp,  and  there,  in  the  evening,  learned  for 
the  first  time  the  extent  of  Worth's  success  in  the  town  prior 
to  that  hour.  He  deemed  it  too  late  then  to  change  his  own 
dispositions  ;  and  receiving  a  note  near  midnight  from  General 
Worth,  stating  his  further  progress,  and  the  position  of  his 
mortar  battery,  he  requested  that  officer  to  await  his  co-opera 
tion  for  further  movements.  Meanwhile  General  Worth  had 
received  from  the  enemy  a  flag  of  truce,  asking  a  brief  suspen 
sion  of  his  fire.  Thus  concluded  the  four  days'  action  against 
Monterey,  in  the  entreaty  of  its  defenders  for  a  capitulation. 
No  previous  achievement  in  the  history  of  American  arms  affords 
a  more  splendid  illustration  of  the  heroism  of  the  American 
character. 

Before  proceeding  to  give  further  details  of  the  siege,  or 
comments  upon  the  result  of  it,  the  following  despatches  of 
General  Taylor  are  presented,  to  complete  the  chain  of  the 
narrative.  It  is  unnecessary  to  introduce  his  brief  accounts 
of  the  affairs  of  the  21st,  22d,  and  23d,  written  on  those  days 
respectively,  as  the  detailed  report,  dated  the  9th  of  October, 
and  annexed,  covers  the  whole  ground. 


238         COMMISSION     ON     CAPITULATION. 

Head- Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Camp  before  Monterey,  September  25,  1846. 

Sm :  At  noon  on  the  23d  instant,  while  our  troops  were 
closely  engaged  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  as  reported  in 
my  last  despatch,  I  received,  by  a  flag,  a  communication  from 
the  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  Leon,  which  is  herewith 
enclosed,  (No.  1.)  To  this  communication  I  deemed  it  my 
duty  to  return  an  answer  declining  to  allow  the  inhabitants  to 
leave  the  city.  By  11  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  2d  division,  which 
had  entered  the  town  from  the  direction  of  the  Bishop's  Palace, 
had  advanced  within  one  square  of  the  principal  Plaza,  and 
occupied  the  city  up  to  that  point.  The  mortar  had,  in  the 
mean  time,  been  placed  in  battery  in  the  cemetery,  within  good 
range  of  the  heart  of  the  town,  and  was  served  throughout  the 
night  with  good  effect. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  24th,  I  received  a  flag  from  the 
town,  bearing  a  communication  from  General  Ampudia,  which 
I  enclose,  (No.  2,)  and  to  which  I  returned  the  answer,  (No. 
3.)  I  also  arranged  with  the  bearer  of  the  flag  a  cessation  of 
fire  until  12  o'clock,  which  hour  I  appointed  to  receive  the 
final  answer  of  General  Ampudia  at  General  Worth's  head 
quarters.  Before  the  appointed  time,  however,  General  Am 
pudia  had  signified  to  General  Worth  his  desire  for  a  personal 
interview  with  me,  for  the  purpose  of  making  some  definitive 
arrangement.  An  interview  was  accordingly  appointed  for  one 
o'clock,  and  resulted  in  the  naming  of  a  commission  to  draw 
up  articles  of  agreement  regulating  the  withdrawal  of  the  Mexi 
can  forces,  and  a  temporary  cessation  of  hostilities.  The  com 
missioners  named  by  the  Mexican  general-in-chief  were  Gene 
rals  Ortega  and  Raquena,  and  Manl.  M.  Llano,  governor  of 
New  Leon.  Those  named  on  the  American  side  were  General 
Worth,  General  Henderson,  Governor  of  Texas,  and  Colonel 
Davis,  Mississippi  volunteers.  The  commission  finally  settled 
upon  the  articles,  of  which  I  enclose  a  copy,  (No.  4,)  the  du 
plicates  of  which  (in  Spanish  and  English)  have  been  duly 
signed.  Agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  the  4th  article,  our 
troops  have  this  morning  occupied  the  citadel. 


*    -?  r 

AMPUDIA'S  PROPOSAL  TO  RETIRE.    239 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  terms  granted  the  Mexican  garrison 
are  less  rigorous  than  those  first  imposed.  The  gallant  defence 
of  the  town,  and  the  fact  of  a  recent  change  of  government  in 
Mexico,  believed  to  be  favourable  to  the  interests  of  peace,  in 
duced  me  to  concur  with  the  commission  in  these  terms,  which 
will,  I  trust,  receive  the  approval  of  the  government.  The 
latter  consideration  also  prompted  the  convention  for  a  tempo 
rary  cessation  of  hostilities.  Though  scarcely  warranted  by 
my  instructions,  yet  the  change  of  affairs  since  those  instruc 
tions  were  issued  seemed  to  warrant  this  course.  I  beg  to  be 
advised,  as  early  as  practicable,  whether  I  have  met  the  views 
of  the  government  in  these  particulars. 

I  regret  to  report  that  Captain  Williams,  topographical  engi 
neers,  and  Lieut.  Terrett,  1st  infantry,  have  died  of  the  wounds 
received  in  the  engagement  of  the  21st.  Captain  Gathir,  7th 
infantry,  was  wounded  (not  badly)  on  the  23d. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR,     . 
Maj.  Gen.  U.  S.  Army,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

L  ^ 

Head-Quarters,  Monterey. 
September  23,  1846,  at  9  o'clock  at  night. 

GENERAL  :  As  I  have  made  all  the  defence  of  which  I  believe 
this  city  capable,  I  have  fulfilled  my  obligation,  and  done  all 
required  by  that  military  honour  which,  to  a  certain  degree,  is 
common  to  all  the  armies  of  the  civilized  world ;  and,  as  a 
continuation  of  the  defence  would  only  bring  upon  the  popula 
tion  distresses  to  which  they  have  already  been  sufficiently 
subjected  by  the  evils  consequent  upon  war,  and  believing  that 
the  American  government  will  appreciate  these  sentiments,  I 
propose  to  your  excellency  to  evacuate  the  city  and  citadel, 
taking  with  me  the  personnel  and  materiel  of  war  which  is  left, 
and  under  the  assurance  that  no  prosecution  shall  be  undertaken 
against  the  citizens  who  have  taken  part  in  the  defence. 
21 


240      TAYLOR'S  ANSWER  TO  AMPUDIA. 

Be  pleased  to  accept  the  assurance  of  my  most  distinguished 
consideration. 

:,  j-v    PEDRO  DE  AMPUDIA. 

Senor  Don  Z.  TAT  LOB, 

General-in-chief  of  the  American  Army. 

•'**  ',-  :  -  ~ 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 

Camp  before  Monterey,  September  24,  1846,  7  o'clock,  A.  M. 

SIR  :  Your  communication,  bearing  date  at  9  o'clock,  P.  M. 
on  the  23d,  has  just  been  received  by  the  hands  of  Colonel 
Moreno. 

In  answer  to  your  proposition  to  evacuate  the  city  and  fort, 
with  all  the  personnel  and  materiel  of  war,  I  have  to  state  that 
my  duty  compels  me  to  decline  acceding  to  it.  A  complete 
surrender  of  the  town  and  garrison,  the  latter  as  prisoners  of 
war,  is  now  demanded.  But  such  surrender  will  be  upon 
terms  ;  and  the  gallant  defence  of  the  place,  creditable  alike  to 
the  Mexican  troops  and  nation,  will  prompt  me  to  make  those 
terms  as  liberal  as  possible.  The  garrison  will  be  allowed,  at 
your  option,  after  laying  down  its  arms,  to  retire  to  the  interior, 
on  condition  of  not  serving  again  during  the  war,  or  until 
regularly  exchanged.  I  need  hardly  say  that  the  rights  of  non- 
combatants  will  be  respected. 

An  answer  to  this  communication  is  required  by  12  o'clock. 
If  you  assent  to  an  accommodation,  an  officer  will  be  despatched 
at  once,  under  instructions  to  arrange  the  conditions. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Major  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

Senor  Don  PEDRO  DE  AMPUDIA, 
General-in-chief,  Monterey. 


GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  LEON. 

Your  excellency  having  resolved  to  occupy  this  place  by 
force  of  arms,  and  the  Mexican  general-in-chief  to  defend  it 


THE  GOVERNOR'S  REQUEST  OF  TAYLOR.  241 

at  any  cost,  as  required  by  his  honour  and  duty,  thousands  of 
victims,  who,  from  their  poverty  and  want  of  means,  find  them 
selves  still  upon  the  theatre  of  war,  and  who  would  be  use 
lessly  sacrificed,  claim  the  rights  which  in  all  times  and  in  all 
countries  humanity  holds  sacred. 

As  Governor  of  this  State,  and  as  the  legitimate  representa 
tive  of  the  people  thereof,  I  now  address  your  excellency ;  and 
I  hope,  from  your  regard  to  humanity,  and  from  your  sense  of 
the  rules  which  govern  civilized  nations,  that  whatever  may  be 
the  result  of  the  present  struggle,  you  will  give  orders  that  the 
resident  families  shall  be  respected,  or  will  concede  a  sufficient 
time  for  them  to  remove  from  this  capital. 

I  have  the  honour  to  salute  your  excellency,  general-in-chief 
of  the  army  of  occupation  of  the  United  States,  and  to  assure 
you  of  my  highest  consideration. 

God  and  liberty !  Monterey,  September  23, 1846,  8  o'clock 
in  the  morning. 

FRANCISCO  DE  P.  MORALES. 

To  the  General-in-chief  of  the 

Army  of  Occupation  of  the  United  States. 


Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Camp  near  Monterey,  Oct.  9,  1846. 

SIR  :  I  have  now  the  honour  to  submit  a  detailed  report  of 
the  recent  operations  before  Monterey,  resulting  in  the  capitu 
lation  of  that  city. 

The  information  received  on  the  route  from  Seralvo,  and 
particularly  the  continual  appearance  in  our  front  of  the  Mexi 
can  cavalry,  which  had  a  slight  skirmish  with  our  advance  at 
the  village  of  Ramas,  induced  the  belief,  as  we  approached 
Monterey,  that  the  enemy  would  defend  that  place.  Upon 
reaching  the  neighbourhood  of  the  city,  on  the  morning  of  the 
19th  of  September,  this  belief  was  fully  confirmed.  It  was  as 
certained  that  he  occupied  the  town  in  force ;  that  a  large  work 
had  been  constructed  commanding  all  the  northern  approaches  ; 
and  that  the  Bishop's  Palace,  and  some  heights  in  its  vicinity 
near  the  Saltillo  road,  had  also  been  fortified  and  occupied 


242    TAYLOR'S  DETAILED  REPORT. 

with  troops  and  artillery.  It  was  known,  from  information 
previously  received,  that  the  eastern  approaches  were  com 
manded  by  several  small  works  in  the  lower  edge  of  the  city. 

The  configuration  of  the  heights  and  gorges  in  the  direction 
of  the  Saltillo  road,  as  visible  from  the  point  attained  by  our 
advance  on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  led  me  to  suspect  that  it 
was  practicable  to  turn  all  the  works  in  that  direction,  and  thus 
cut  the  enemy's  line  of  communication.  After  establishing  my 
camp  at  the  "Walnut  Springs,"  three  miles  from  Monterey, 
the  nearest  suitable  position,  it  was,  accordingly,  my  first  care 
to  order  a  close  reconnoissance  of  the  ground  in  question, 
which  was  executed  on  the  evening  of  the  19th  by  the  engi 
neer  officers,  under  the  direction  of  Major  Mansfield.  A  re- 
connoissance  of  the  eastern  approaches  was  at  the  same  time 
made  by  Captain  Williams,  topographical  engineer.  The  ex 
amination  made  by  Major  Mansfield  proved  the  entire  practi 
cability  of  throwing  forward  a  column  to  the  Saltillo  road,  and 
thus  turning  the  position  of  the  enemy.  Deeming  this  to-  be 
an  operation  of  essential  importance,  orders  were  given  to 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  Worth,  commanding  the  second  division, 
to  march  with  his  command  on  the  20th;  to  turn  the  hill  of 
the  Bishop's  Palace  ;  to  occupy  a  position  on  the  Saltillo  road, 
and  to  carry  the  enemy's  detached  works  in  that  quarter,  where 
practicable.  The  first  regiment  of  Texas  mounted  volunteers, 
under  command  of  Col.  Hays,  was  associated  with  the  second 
division  on  this  service.  Capt.  Sanders,  engineers,  and  Lieut. 
Meade,  topographical  engineers,  were  also  ordered  to  report  to 
Gen.  Worth  for  duty  with  his  column. 

At  2  o'clock,  P.  M.,  on  the  20th,  the  second  division  took 
up  its  march.  It  was  soon  discovered,  by  officers  who  were 
reconnoitring  the  town,  and  communicated  to  Gen.  Worth, 
that  its  movement  had  been  perceived,  and  that  the  enemy 
was  throwing  reinforcements  towards  the  Bishop's  Palace  and 
the  height  which  commands  it.  To  divert  his  attention  as  far 
as  practicable,  the  first  division,  under  Brigadier  General 
Twiggs,  and  field  division  of  volunteers,  under  Major  General 
Butler,  were  displayed  in  front  of  the  town  until  dark.  Arrange- 


. 

DETAILED  REPORT  CONTINUED.    243 

ments  were  made  at  the  same  time  to  place  in  battery  during 
the  night,  at  a  suitable  distance  from  the  enemy's  main  work, 
the  citadel,  two  twenty-four-pounder  howitzers,  and  a  ten-inch 
mortar,  with  a  view  to  open  a  fire  on  the  following  day,  when 
I  proposed  to  make  a  diversion  in  favour  of  General  Worth's 
movement.  The  4th  infantry  covered  this  battery  during  the 
night.  Gen.  Worth  had,  in  the  mean  time,  reached  and  occu 
pied  for  the  night  a  defensive  position  just  without  range  of  a 
battery  above  the  Bishop's  Palace,  having  made  a  reconnois- 
sance  as  far  as  the  Saltillo  road. 

Before  proceeding  to  report  the  operations  of  the  21st  and 
following  days,  I  beg  leave  to  state  that  I  shall  mention  in  de 
tail  only  those  which  were  conducted  against  the  eastern  ex 
tremity  of  the  city,  or  elsewhere,  under  my  immediate  direc 
tion,  'referring  you  for  the  particulars  of  Gen.  Worth's  opera 
tions,  which  were  entirely  detached,  to  his  own  full  report 
transmitted  herewith. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  I  received  a  note  from 
General  Worth,  written  at  half-past  9  o'clock  the  night  before, 
suggesting  what  I  had  already  intended,  a  strong  diversion 
against  the  centre  and  left  of  the  town  to  favour  his  enterprize 
against  the  heights  in  rear.  The  infantry  and  artillery  of 
the  first  division,  and  the  field  division  of  volunteers,  were  or 
dered  under  arms  and  took  the  direction  of  the  city,  leaving 
one  company  of  each  regiment  as  a  camp  guard.  The  2d  dra 
goons,  under  Lieut.  Col.  May,  and  Col.  Wood's  regiment  of 
Texas  mounted  volunteers,  under  the  immediate  direction  of 
General  Henderson,  were  directed  to  the  right  to  support  Gen. 
Worth,  if  necessary,  and  to  make  an  impression,  if  practicable, 
upon  the  upper  quarter  of  the  city.  Upon  approaching  the 
mortar  battery,  the  1st  and  3d  regiments  of  infantry  and  batta 
lion  of  Baltimore  and  Washington  volunteers,  with  Captain 
Bragg's  field  battery  —  the  whole  under  the  command  of  Lieut. 
Col.  Garland  —  were  directed  towards  the  lower  part  of  the 
town,  with  orders  to  make  a  strong  demonstration,  and  carry 
one  of  the  enemy's  advanced  works,  if  it  could  be  done  with 
out  too  heavy  loss.  Major  Mansfield,  engineers,  and  Captain 
21* 


244    DETAILED  REPORT  CONTINUED. 

Williams  and  Lieut.  Pope,  topographical  engineers,  accompa 
nied  this  column,  Major  Mansfield  being  charged  with  its  di 
rection,  and  the  designation  of  points  of  attack.  In  the  mean 
time  the  mortar,  served  by  Capt.  Ramsay,  of  the  ordnance, 
and  the  howitzer  battery  under  Capt.  Webster,  1st  artillery, 
had  opened  their  fire  upon  the  citadel,  which  was  deliberately 
sustained,  and  answered  from  the  work.  Gen.  Butler's  divi 
sion  had  now  taken  up  a  position  in  rear  of  this  battery,  when 
the  discharges  of  artillery,  mingled  finally  with  a  rapid  fire  of 
small  arms,  showed  that  Lieut.  Garlan'd's  command  had  become 
warmly  engaged.  I  now  deemed  it  necessary  to  support  this 
attack,  and  accordingly  ordered  the  4th  infantry  and  three  regi 
ments  of  General  Butler's  division  to  march  at  once  by  the  left 
flank  in  the  direction  of  the  advanced  work  at  the  lo\ver  ex 
tremity  of  the  town,  leaving  one  regiment  (1st  Kentucky)  to 
cover  the  mortar  and  howitzer  battery.  By  some  mistake  two 
companies  of  the  4th  infantry  did  not  receive  this  order,  and 
consequently  did  not  join  the  advance  companies  until  some 
time  afterwards. 

Lieut.  Col.  Garland's  command  had  approached  the  town  in 
a  direction  to  the  right  of  the  advanced  work  (No.  1.)  at  the 
north-eastern  angle  of  the  city,  and  the  engineer  officer,  covered 
by  skirmishers,  had  succeeded  in  entering  the  suburbs  and 
gaining  cover.  The  remainder  of  this  command  now  advanced 
and  entered  the  town  under  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery  from  the 
citadel  and  the  works  on  the  left,  and  of  musketry  from  the 
houses  and  small  works  in  front.  A  movement  to  the  right 
was  attempted  with  a  view  to  gain  the  rear  of  No.  1,  and  carry 
that  work,  but  the  troops  were  so  much  exposed  to  a  fire  which 
they  could  not  effectually  return,  and  had  already  sustained 
such  severe  loss,  particularly  in  officers,  that  it  was  deemed 
best  to  withdraw  them  to  a  more  secure  position.  Captain 
Backus,  1st  infantry,  however,  with  a  portion  of  his  own  and 
other  companies,  had  gained  the  roof  of  a  tannery,  which 
looked  directly  into  the  gorge  of  No.  1,  and  from  which  he 
poured  a  most  destructive  fire  into  that  work  and  upon  the 
strong  building  in  its  rear.  This  fire  happily  coincided  in  point 


'":•. 

DETAILED    REPORT    CONTINUED.          245 

of  time  with  the  advance  of  a  portion  of  the  volunteer  division 
upon  No.  1,  and  contributed  largely  to  the  fall  of  that  strong 
and  important  work. 

The  three  regiments  of  the  volunteer  division,  under  the  im 
mediate  command  of  Major  General  Butler,  had  in  the  mean 
time  advanced  in  the  direction  of  No.  1.  The  leading  brigade, 
under  Brigadier  General  Quitman,  continued  its  advance  upon 
that  work,  preceded  by  three  companies  of  the  4th  infantry, 
while  General  Butler,  with  the  first  Ohio  regiment,  entered  the 
town  to  the  right.  The  companies  of  the  4th  infantry  had  ad 
vanced  within  short  range  of  the  work,  when  they  were  received 
by  a  fire  that  almost,  in  one  moment,  struck  down  one-third 
of  the  officers  and  men,  and  rendered  it  necessary  to  retire  and 
effect  a  conjunction  with  the  two  other  companies  then  advanc 
ing.  General  Quitman's  brigade,  though  suffering  most  se 
verely,  particularly  in  the  Tennessee  regiment,  continued  its 
advance,  and  finally  carried  the  work  in  handsome  style,  as 
well  as  the  strong  building  in  its  rear.  Five  pieces  of  artillery, 
a  considerable  supply  of  ammunition,  and  thirty  prisoners,  in 
cluding  three  officers,  fell  into  their  hands.  Major  General 
Butler,  with  the  1st  Ohio  regiment,  after  entering  the  edge  of 
the  town,  discovered  that  nothing  was  to  be  accomplished  in 
his  front,  and  at  this  point,  yielding  to  the  suggestions  of  seve 
ral  officers,  I  ordered  a  retrograde  movement ;  but  learning 
almost  immediately,  from  one  of  my  staff,  that  the  battery  No. 
1.  was  in  our  possession,  the  order  was  countermanded  :  and 
I  determined  to  hold  the  battery  and  defences  already  gained. 
General  Butler  with  the  1st  Ohio  regiment,  then  entered  the 
town  at  a  point  farther  to  the  left,  and  marched  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  battery  No.  2.  While  making  an  examination, 
with  a  view  to  ascertain  the  possibility  of  carrying  this  second 
work  by  storm,  the  general  was  wounded  and  soon  after  com 
pelled  to  quit  the  field.  As  the  strength  of  No.  2,  and  the 
heavy  musketry  fire  flanking  the  approach,  rendered  it  impos 
sible  to  carry  it  without  great  loss,  the  1st  Ohio  regiment  was 
withdrawn  from  the  town. 

Fragments  of  the  various  regiments  engaged  were  now  under 

t  ' 


246    DETAILED  REPORT  CONTINUED. 

cover  of  the  captured  battery,  and  some  buildings  in  its  front, 
and  on  the  right.  The  field  batteries  of  Captains  Bragg  and 
Ridgely  were  also  partially  covered  by  the  battery.  An  inces 
sant  fire  was  kept  up  on  this  position  from  battery  No.  2,  and 
other  works  on  its  right,  and  from  the  citadel  on  all  our  ap 
proaches.  General  Twiggs,  though  quite  unwell,  joined  me 
at  this  point,  and  was  instrumental  in  causing  the  artillery  cap 
tured  from  the  enemy  to  be  placed  in  battery,  and  served  by 
Captain  Ridgely  against  No.  2,  until  the  arrival  of  Captain 
Webster's  howitzer  battery,  which  took  its  place.  In  the  mean 
time,  I  directed  such  men  as  could  be  collected  of  the  1st,  3d, 
and  4th  regiments,  and  Baltimore  battalion,  to  enter  the  town, 
penetrating  to  the  right,  and  carry  the  2d  battery  if  possible. 
This  command,  under  Lieut.  Col.  Garland,  advanced  beyond 
the  bridge  «  Purisima,"  when,  finding  it  impracticable  to  gain 
the  rear  of  the  2d  battery,  a  portion  of  it  sustained  themselves 
for  some  time  in  that  advanced  position ;  but  as  no  permanent 
impression  could  be  made  at  that  point,  and  the  main  object 
of  the  general  operation  had  been  effected,  the  command,  in 
cluding  a  section  of  Captain  Ridgely's  battery,  which  had 
joined  it,  was  withdrawn  to  battery  No.  1.  During  the  absence 
of  this  column,  a  demonstration  of  cavalry  was  reported  in  the 
direction  of  the  citadel.  Captain  Bragg,  who  was  at  hand, 
immediately  galloped  with  his  battery  to  a  suitable  position, 
from  which  a  few  discharges  effectually  dispersed  the  enemy. 
Captain  Miller,  1st  Infantry,  was  despatched  with  a  mixed  com 
mand  to  support  the  battery  on  this  service.  The  enemy's 
lancers  had  previously  charged  upon  the  Ohio  and  a  part  of  the 
Mississippi  regiment,  near  some  fields  at  a  distance  from  the 
edge  of  the  town,  and  had  been  repulsed  with  a  considerable 
loss.  A  demonstration  of  cavalry  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river  was  also  dispersed  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon  by  Cap 
tain  Ridgely's  battery,  and  the  squadrons  returned  to  the  city. 
At  the  approach  of  evening,  all  the  troops  that  had  been  en 
gaged  were  ordered  back  to  camp,  except  Captain  Ridgely's 
battery,  and  the  regular  infantry  of  the  first  division,  who  were 
detailed  as  a  guard  for  the  works  during  the  night,  under  com- 


DETAILED    REPORT    CONTINUED.          247 

mand  of  Lieut.  Col.  Garland.  One  battalion  of  the  1st  Ken 
tucky  regiment  was  ordered  to  reinforce  this  command.  In 
trenching  tools  were  procured,  and  additional  strength  was 
given  to  the  works,  and  protection  to  the  men,  by  working 
parties  during  the  night,  under  the  direction  of  Lieut.  Scarritt, 
engineers.. 

The  main  object  proposed  in  the  morning  had  been  effected. 
A  powerful  diversion  had  been  made  to  favour  the  operations 
of  the  2d  division,  one  of  the  enemy's  advanced  works  had 
been  carried,  and  we  now  had  a  strong  foot-hold  in  the  town. 
But  this  had  not  been  accomplished  without  a  heavy  loss,  em 
bracing  some  of  our  gallant  and  promising  officers.  Captain 
Williams,  topographical  engineers,  Lieuts.  Terrett  and  Dil- 
worth,  1st  infantry,  Lieut.  Woods,  2d  infantry,  Capts.  Morris 
and  Field,  Bvt.  Major  Barbour,  Lieuts.  Irwin  and  Hazlett,  3d 
infantry,  Lieut.  Hoskins,  4th  infantry,  Lieut.  Col.  Watson,  Bal 
timore  battalion,  Capt.  Allen  and  Lieut.  Putman,  Tennessee 
regiment,  and  Lieut.  Hett,  Ohio  regiment,  were  killed,  or  have 
since  died  of  wounds  received  in  this  engagement,  while  the 
number  and  rank  of  the  officers  wounded  gives  additional  proof 
of  the  obstinacy  of  the  contest,  and  the  good  conduct  of  our 
troops.  The  number  of  killed  and  wounded  incident  to  the 
operations  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city  on  the  21st  is  394.  • 

Early  in  the  morning  of  this  day,  (21st,)  the  advance  of  the 
2d  division  had  encountered  the  enemy  in  force,  and  after  a 
brief  but  sharp  conflict,  repulsed  him  with  heavy  loss.  Gen. 
Worth  then  succeeded  in  gaining  a  position  on  the  Saltillo 
road,  thus  cutting  the  enemy's  line  of  communication.  From 
this  position  the  two  heights  south  of  the  Saltillo  road  were 
carried  in  succession,  and  the  gun  taken  in  one  of  them  turned 
upon  the  Bishop's  Palace.  These  important  successes  were 
fortunately  obtained  with  comparatively  small  loss ;  Captain 
McKavett,  8th  infantry,  being  the  only  officer  killed. 

The  22d  day  of  September  passed  without  any  active  opera 
tions  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city.     The  citadel  and  othei 
works  continued  to  fire  at  parties  exposed  to  their  range,  and 
at  the  work  now  occupied  by  our  troops.    The  guard  left  in  it 


248    DETAILED  REPORT  CONTINUED. 

the  preceding  night,  except  Capt.  Ridgely's  company,  was  re 
lieved  at  mid-day  by  Gen.  Quitman's  brigade,  Capt.  Bragg's 
battery  was  thrown  under  cover  in  front  of  the  town  to  repel 
any  demonstration  of  cavalry  in  that  quarter.  At  dawn  of  day, 
the  height  above  the  Bishop's  Palace  was  carried,  and  soon 
after  meridian,  the  Palace  itself  was  taken  and  its  guns  turned 
upon  the  fugitive  garrison.  The  object  for  which  the  2d  divi 
sion  was  detached  had  thus  been  completely  accomplished,  and 
I  felt  confident  that  with  a  strong  force  occupying  the  road  and 
heights  in  his  rear,  and  a  good  position  below  the  city  in  our 
possession,  the  enemy  could  not  possibly  maintain  the  town. 

During  the  night  of  the  22d,  the  enemy  evacuated  nearly  all 
his  defences  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city.  This  was  reported 
to  me  early  in  the  morning  of  the  23d  by  Gen.  Quitman,  who 
had  already  meditated  an  assault  upon  those  works.  I  imme 
diately  sent  instructions  to  that  officer,  leaving  it  to  his  discre 
tion  to  enter  the  city,  covering  his  men  by  the  houses  and 
walls,  and  advance  carefully  as  far  as  he  might  deem  prudent. 
After  ordering  the  remainder  of  the  troops  as  a  reserve,  under 
the  orders  of  Brigadier  General  Twiggs,  I  repaired  to  the 
abandoned  works,  and  discovered  that  a  portion  of  Gen.  Quit 
man's  brigade  had  entered  the  town,  and  were  successfully 
forcing  their  way  towards  the  principal  plaza.  I  then  ordered  up 
the  2d  regiment  of  Texas  mounted  volunteers,  who  entered  the 
city,  dismounted,  and,  under  the  immediate  orders  of  Gen. 
Henderson,  co-operated  with  Gen.  Quitman's  brigade.  Capt. 
Bragg's  battery  was  also  ordered  up,  supported  by  the  3d  in 
fantry  ;  and  after  firing  for  some  time  at  the  cathedral,  a  por 
tion  of  it  was  likewise  thrown  into  the  city.  Our  troops  ad 
vanced  from  house  to  house,  and  from  square  to  square,  until 
they  reached  a  street  but  one  square  in  rear  of  the  principal 
plaza,  in  and  near  which  the  enemy's  force  was  mainly  concen 
trated.  This  advance  was  conducted  vigorously  but  with  due 
caution,  and  although  destructive  to  the  enemy,  was  attended 
with  but  small  loss  on  our  part.  Captain  Ridgely,  in  the  mean 
time,  had  served  a  captured  piece  in  battery  No.  1,  against  the 
r,vty,  until  the  advance  of  our  men  rendered  it  imprudent  to  fire 


DETAILED  REPORT  CONTINUED.    249 

in  the  direction  of  the  Cathedral.  I  was  now  satisfied  that  we 
could  operate  successfully  in  the  city,  and  that  the  enemy  had 
retired  from  the  lower  portion  of  it  to  make  a  stand  behind  his 
barricades.  As  Gen.  Quitman's  brigade  had  been  on  duty  the 
previous  night,  I  determined  to  withdraw  the  troops  to  the 
evacuated  works,  and  concert  with  Gen.  Worth  a  combined 
attack  upon  the  town.  The  troops  accordingly  fell  back  de 
liberately,  in  good  order,  and  resumed  their  original  positions, 
General  Quitman's  brigade  being  relieved  after  nightfall  by 
that  of  General  Hamer.  On  my  return  to  camp,  I  met  an  offi 
cer  with  the  intelligence  that  General  Worth,  induced  by  the 
firing  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  was  about  making  an  attack 
at  the  upper  extremity,  which  had  also  been  evacuated  by  the 
enemy  to  a  considerable  distance.  I  regretted  that  this  infor 
mation  had  not  reached  me  before .  leaving  the  city,  but  still 
deemed  it  inexpedient  to  change  my  orders,  and  accordingly 
returned  to  the  camp.  A  note  from  Gen.  Worth,  written  at 
eleven  o'clock,  P.  M.,  informed  me  that  he  had  advanced  to 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  principal  plaza,  and  that  the 
mortar  (which  had  been  sent  to  his  division  in  the  morning)  was 
doing  good  execution  within  effective  range  of  the  enemy's 
position. 

Desiring  to  make  no  further  attempt  upon  the  city  without 
complete  concert  as  to  the  lines  and  mode  of  approach,  I  in 
structed  that  officer  to  suspend  his  advance  until  I  could  have 
an  interview  with  him  on  the  following  morning  at  his  head 
quarters. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  I  received,  through 
Colonel  Moreno,  a  communication  from  General  Ampudia, 
proposing  to  evacuate  the  town  ;  which,  with  the  answer,  were 
forwarded  with  my  first  despatch.  I  arranged  with  Colonel 
Moreno  a  cessation  of  fire  until  twelve  o'clock,  at  which  hour 
I  would  receive  the  answer  of  the  Mexican  general  at  General 
Worth's  head-quarters,  to  which  I  soon  repaired.  In  the  mean 
time,  General  Ampudia  had  signified  to  General  Worth  his 
desire  for  a  personal  interview  with  me,  to  which  I.  acceded, 
and  which  finally  resulted  in  a  capitulation,  placing  the  towu 


250    DETAILED  REPORT  CONTINUED. 

and  the  material  of  war,  with  certain  exceptions,  in  our  posses 
sion.  A  copy  of  that  capitulation  was  transmitted  with  my 
first  despatch. 

Upon  occupying  the  city,  it  was  discovered  to  be  of  great 
strength  in  itself,  and  to  have  its  approaches  carefully  and 
strongly  fortified.  The  town  and  works  were  armed  with 
forty-two  pieces  of  cannon,  well  supplied  with  ammunition, 
and  manned  with  a  force  of  at  least  7000  troops  of  the  line, 
and  from  2000  to  3000  irregulars.  The  force  under  my  orders 
before  Monterey,  as  exhibited  by  the  accompanying  return, 
was  425  officers,  and  6220  men.  Our  artillery  consisted  of 
one  ten-inch  mortar,  two  twenty-four-pounder  howitzers,  and 
four  light  field  batteries  of  four  guns  each — the  mortar  being 
the  only  piece  suitable  to  the  operations  of  a  siege. 

Our  loss  is  twelve  officers  and  one  hundred  and  eight  men 
killed ;  thirty-one  officers  and  three  hundred  and  thirty-seven 
men  wounded.  That  of  the  enemy  is  not  known,  but  is  be 
lieved  considerably  to  exceed  our  own. 

I  take  pleasure  in  bringing  to  the  notice  of  the  government 
the  good  conduct  of  the  troops,  both  regulars  and  volunteers, 
which  has  been  conspicuous  throughout  the  operations.  I  am 
proud  to  bear  testimony  to  their  coolness  and  constancy  in 
battle,  and  the  cheerfulness  with  which  they  have  submitted  to 
exposure  and  privation.  To  the  general  officers  commanding 
divisions — Major  Generals  Butler  and  Henderson,  and  Briga 
dier  Generals  Twiggs  and  Worth — I  must  express  my  obliga 
tions  for  the  efficient  aid  which  they  have  rendered  in  their  re 
spective  commands.  I  was  unfortunately  deprived,  early  on 
the  21st,  of  the  valuable  services  of  Major  General  Butler, 
who  was  disabled  by  a  wound  received  in  the  attack  on  the 
city.  Major  General  Henderson,  commanding  the  Texan  volun 
teers,  has  given  me  important  aid  in  the  organization  of  the 
command,  and  its  subsequent  operations.  Brigadier  General 
Twiggs  rendered  important  services  with  his  division,  and  as 
the  second  in  command  after  Major  General  Butler  was  disabled, 
brigadier  General  Worth  was  intrusted  with  an  important  de 
tachment  which  rendered  his  operations  independent  of  my 


DETAILED    REPORT    CONTINUED.          251 

own.     These   operations  were   conducted  with   ability,  and 
crowned  with  complete  success. 

I  desire  also  to  notice  Brigadier  Generals  Hamer  and  Quit- 
man,  commanding  brigades  in  General  Butler's  Division.  Lieu 
tenant  Colonels  Garland  and  Wilson,  commanding  brigades  in 
General  Twiggs'  Division.  Colonels  Mitchell,  Campbell,  Davis 
and  Wood,  commanding  the  Ohio,  Tennessee,  Mississippi,  and 
2d  Texas  regiments,  respectively,  and  Majors  Lear,  Allen,  and 
Abercrombie,  commanding  the  3d,  4th,  and  1st  regiments  of 
infantry ;  all  of  whom  served  under  my  eye,  and  conducted 
their  commands  with  coolness  and  gallantry  against  the  enemy. 
Colonel  Mitchell,  Lieut.  Col.  McClung,  Mississippi  regiment, 
Major  Lear,  3d  infantry,  and  Major  Alexander,  Tennessee  re 
giment,  were  all  severely  wounded,  as  were  Captain  Lamotte, 
1st  infantry,  Lieut.  Graham,  4th  infantry,  Adjutant  Armstrong, 
Ohio  regiment,  Lieutenants  Scudder  and  Allen,  Tennessee  re 
giment,  and  Lieut.  Howard,  Mississippi  regiment,  while  leading 
their  men  against  the  .enemy's  position,  on  the  21st  and  23d. 
After  the  fall  of  Col.  Mitchell,  the  command  of  the  1st  Ohio 
regiment  devolved  upon  Lieut.  Col.  Weller;  that  of  the  3d 
infantry,  after  the  fall  of  Major  Lear,  devolved  in  succession 
upon  Capt.  Bainbridge  and  Capt.  Henry,  the  former  being  also 
wounded.  The  following  named  officers  have  been  favourably 
noticed  by  their  commanders :  Lieut.  Col.  Anderson,  and  Ad 
jutant  Heiman,  Tennessee  regiment;  Lieut.  Col.  McClung, 
Captains  Cooper  and  Downing,  Lieutenants  Patterson,  Cal- 
houn,  Moore,  Russell,  and  Cook,  Mississippi  regiment ;  also 
Serjeant  Major  Hearlan,  Mississippi  regiment,  and  Major  Price, 
and  Capt.  J.  Smith,  unattached,  but  serving  with  it.  I  beg 
leave  also  to  call  attention  to  the  good  conduct  of  Captain 
Johnston,  Ohio  regiment,  and  Lieut.  Hooker,  1st  artillery, 
serving  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Hamer,  and  of  Lieutenant  Nichols, 
2d  artillery,  on  that  of  General  Quitman.  Captains  Bragg  and 
Ridgely  served  with  their  batteries  during  the  operations  under 
my  own  observation,  and  in  part  under  my  immediate  orders, 
and  exhibited  distinguished  skill  and  gallantry.  Captain  Web 
ster,  1st  artillery,  assisted  by  Lieutenants  Donaldson  and  Bo- 
22 


•'V 


252         DETAILED    REPORT    CONTINUED. 

wen,  rendered  good  service  with  the  howitzer  battery,  which 
was  much  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire  on  the  21st. 

From  the  nature  of  the  operations,  the  2d  dragoons  were 
not  brought  into  action,  but  were  usefully  employed,  under  the 
direction  of  Lieut.  Col.  May,  as  escorts,  and  in  keeping  open 
our  communications.  The  1st  Kentucky  regiment  was  also 
prevented  from  participating  in  the  action  of  the  21st,  but 
rendered  highly  important  services  under  Col.  Ormsby,  in 
covering  the  mortar  battery,  and  holding  in  check  the  enemy's 
cavalry  during  the  day. 

I  have  noticed  above,  the  officers  whose  conduct  either  fell 
under  my  immediate  eye,  or  is  noticed  only  in  minor  reports 
which  are  not  forwarded.  For  further  mention  of  individuals, 
I  beg  leave  to  refer  to  the  reports  of  division  commanders 
herewith  respectfully  transmitted.  I  fully  concur  in  their  re 
commendations,  and  desire  that  they  be  considered  as  a  part 
of  my  own  report. 

From  the  officers  of  my  personal  staff,  and  of  the  engineers, 
topographical  engineers,  and  ordnance,  associated  with  me,  I 
have  derived  valuable  and  efficient  assistance  during  the  opera 
tions.  Col.  Whiting,  assistant  quartermaster  general,  Colonels 
Croghan  and  Belknap,  inspector  generals,  Major  Bliss,  assistant 
adjutant  general,  Captain  Sibley,  assistant  quartermaster,  Cap 
tain  Waggaman,  commissary  of  subsistence,  Captain  Eaton 
and  Lieut.  Garnett,  aids-de-camp,  and  Major  Kirby  and  Van 
Buren,  pay  department,  served  near  my  person,  and  were  ever 
prompt,  in  all  situations,  in  the  communication  of  my  orders 
and  instructions.  I  must  express  my  particular  obligations  to 
Brevet  Major  Mansfield  and  Lieut.  Scarritt,  corps  of  engineers. 
They  both  rendered  most  important  services  in  reconnoitring 
the  enemy's  positions,  conducting  troops  in  attack,  and 
strengthening  the  works  captured  from  the  enemy.  Major 
Mansfield,  though  wounded  on  the  21st,  remained  on  duty 
during  that  and  the  following  day,  until  confined  by  his  wound 
to  camp.  Capt.  Williams,  topographical  engineers,  to  my 
great  regret  and  the  loss  of  the  service,  was  mortally  wounded 
while  fearlessly  exposing  himself  in  the  attack  of  the  21st. 


DETAILED    REPORT.  253 

Lieut.  Pope,  of  the  same  corps,  was  active  and  zealous  through 
out  the  operations.  Major  Munroe,  chief  of  the  artillery, 
Major  Craig  and  Capt.  Ramsay,  of  the  ordnance,  were  assidu 
ous  in  the  performance  of  their  proper  duties.  The  former 
superintended  their  mortar  service  on  the  22d,  as  particularly 
mentioned  in  the  report  of  Gen.  Worth,  to  which  I  also  refer 
for  the  services  of  the  engineer  and  topographical  officers  de 
tached  with  the  second  division. 

Surgeon  Craig,  medical  director,  was  actively  employed  in 
the  important  duties  of  his  department,  and  the  medical  staff 
generally  were  unremitting  in  their  attention  to  the  numerous 
wounded — their  duties  with  the  regular  regiments  being  ren 
dered  uncommonly  arduous  by  the  small  number  serving  in  the 
field. 

I  respectfully  enclose  herewith,  in  addition  to  the  reports  of 
division  commanders,  a  field  return  of  the  force  before  Mon 
terey  on  the  21st  of  September — a  return  of  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing  during  the  operations — and  two  topographical 
sketches — one  exhibiting  all  the  movements  around  Monterey 
— the  other  on  a  large  scale  illustrating  more  particularly  the 
operations  in  the  lower  quarter  of  the  city — prepared  respec 
tively  by  Lieutenants  Meade  and  Pope,  topographical  engineers. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Major  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

In  justice  to  the  gallant  officers  and  corps  of  General 
Worth's  Division,  the  annexed  extract  from  his  report  of  his 
operations  is  given,  in  connection  with  that  of  the  commander- 
in- chief. 

"  When  every  officer  and  every  soldier,  regular  and  volun 
teer,  has,  through  a  series  of  harassing  and  severe  conflicts,  in 
the  valley  and  on  the  mountain,  in  the  street  and  on  the  house 
top,  cheerfully,  bravely,  and  successfully  executed  every  ser 
vice,  and  complied  with  every  exaction  of  valour  and  patriotism, 
the  task  is  as  difficult  as  delicate  to  distinguish  individuals ; 


254       OFFICERS    DISTINGUISHED    IN    IT. 


and  yet  it  will  always  happen,  as  it  has  always  happened,  in 
the  varied  scenes  of  battle  and  siege,  that  fortune  presents  to 
some  those  opportunities  which  all  would  have  seized  with 
gladness  and  avidity.  It  is  my  pleasing  and  grateful  duty  to 
present  to  the  consideration  of  the  general-in-chief,  and  through 
him  to  the  government,  the  distinguished  conduct  of  Brigadier 
General  Smith,  (colonel  of  rifles ;)  Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Childs,  artillery  battalion  ;  Colonel  Hays,  Texan  riflemen  ;  Bre 
vet  Lieutenant  Colonel  Duncan,  horse  artillery;  and  Captain 
C.  F.  Smith,  2d  artillery,  commanding  light  troops  1st  brigade. 
"My  thanks  are  also  especially  due  to  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Staniford,  8th,  (commanding  1st  brigade ;)  Major  Munroe, 
chief  of  artillery,  (general  staff;)  Brevet  Major  Brown  and  Cap 
tain  J.  R.  Vinton,  artillery  battalion ;  Captain  J.  B.  Scott,  ar 
tillery  battalion,  (light  troops;)  Major  Scott,  commanding,  and 
Captain  Merrill,  5th ;  Captains  Miles,  (commanding,)  Holmes, 
and  Ross,  7th  infantry,  and  Captain  Screvin,  commanding  8th 
infantry ;  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Walker,  (captain  of  rifles ;) 
Major  Chevalier  and  Captain  McCulloch,  of  the  Texan,  and 
Captain  Blanchard,  of  the  Louisiana  volunteers  ;  to  Lieutenants 
Mackall,  (commanding  battery,)  Roland,  Martin,  Hays,  Irons, 
Clarke,  and  Curd,  horse  artillery ;  Lieutenant  Longstreet,  com 
manding  light  company  8th  ;  Lieutenant  Ayres,  artillery  batta 
lion,  who  was  among  the  first  in  the  assault  upon  the  palace, 
and  who  secured  the  colours.  Each  of  the  officers  named 
either  headed  special  detachments,  columns  of  attack,  storming 
parties,  or  detached  guns ;  and  all  were  conspicuous  for  con 
duct  and  courage.  My  attention  has  been  particularly  directed, 
by  General  Smith,  to  the  gallant  conduct  of  Lieutenant  Gard 
ner,  7th  infantry,  during  the  assault  upon  the  city ;  on  which 
occasion  he  threw  himself  in  advance,  and  on  the  most  exposed 
points,  animating  the  men  by  his  brave  example.  Particular 
attention  has  also  been  called  to  the  Lieutenants  Nicholls, 
(brothers,)  Louisiana  volunteers,  as  having  highly  distinguished 
themselves  by  personal  daring  and  efficient  service.  The  offi 
cers  of  brigade  and  regimental  staff  were  conspicuous  in  the 
field,  or  in  their  particular  departments.  Lieutenants  Hanson, 


OFFICERS    KILLED    AND    WOUNDED.      255 

(commanding,)  Vandorn,  (aid-de-camp  7th  ;)  Lieutenant  Ro 
binson,  5th,  (quartermaster's  department,)  on  the  staff  of  Gene 
ral  Smith ;  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  Clarke,  8th  infantry,  staff 
1st  brigade  ;  Lieutenants  Benjamin,  adjutant  artillery  battalion  ; 
Peck,  ordnance  office,  artillery  battalion  ;  G.  Deas,  adjutant  5th, 
and  Page,  adjutant  7th  infantry,  are  highly  commended  by  their 
respective  chiefs;  to  the  justness  of  which  I  have  the  pleasure 
to  add  my  personal  observation.  In  common  with  the  entire 
division,  my  particular  thanks  are  tendered  to  Assistant  Sur 
geons  Porter,  (senior,)  Byrne,  Conrad,  De  Leon,  and  Roberts, 
(medical  department,)  who  were  ever  at  hand,  in  the  close  fight, 
promptly  administering  to  the  wounded  and  suffering  soldier. 
To  the  officers  of  the  staff,  general  and  personal,  more  espe 
cially  associated  with  myself — honourable  Colonel  Balie  Pey 
ton,  Louisiana  troops,  who  did  me  the  honour  to  serve  as  aid- 
de-camp  ;  Captain  Sanders,  military  engineers ;  Lieutenant 
Meade,  topographical  engineers  ;  Lieutenants  E.  Deas,  Daniels, 
and  Ripley,  quartermaster's  and  commissary's  staff,  and  Lieu 
tenants  Pemberton,  4th  artillery,  and  Wood,  8th  infantry,  my 
aids-de-camp — I  have  to  express  the  greatest  obligation.  In 
such  diversified  operations,  during  the  three  days  and  nights, 
they  were  constantly  in  motion,  performing  every  executive 
duty  with  zeal  and  intelligence,  only  surpassed  by  daring  and 
courage  in  conflict.  I  beg  to  commend  each  to  special  con 
sideration. 

"  We  have  to  lament  the  gallant  Captains  McKavett,  8th 
infantry,  an  officer  of  high  merit,  killed  on  the  21st,  and  Gil- 
lespie,  Texas  volunteers,  on  the  22d.  The  latter  eminently 
distinguished  himself,  while  leading  his  brave  company  at  the 
storming  of  the  first  height,  and  perished  in  seeking  similar 
distinction  on  a  second  occasion.  Captain  Gatlin  and  Lieute 
nant  Potter,  7th,  Lieutenant  Russell,  5th,  and  Wainwright,  8th 
infantry,  and  Lieutenant  Reece,  Texas  riflemen,  received  hon 
ourable  (happily  not  mortal)  wounds.  Annexed  is  an  accurate 
topographical  sketch  of  the  theatre  of  operations ;  for  which  I 
am  indebted,  as  in  many  other  respects,  to  the  intelligent  zeal 
and  gallantry  of  Lieutenant  Meade,  engineers. 


256  COMMENT    ON    THE    ACTION. 

"  The  following  non-commissioned  officers  are  reported  as 
having  highly  distinguished  themselves:  Serjeants  Hazard,  4th, 
and  Dilworth,  3d  artillery ;  Quartermaster  Serjeant  Henry,  7th 
infantry;  Cross,  company  C. ;  Rounds,  Bradford,  (colour  ser- 
jeant,)  and  Wragg,  company  E. ;  Bailey,  company  D. ;  and 
Ballard,  7th  infantry." 

Where  few,  if  any,  were  found  wanting,  in  the  protracted, 
arduous,  and  singularly  dangerous  duty  imposed  on  the  troops 
who  stormed  Monterey,  it  is  not  possible,  however  grateful  the 
task,  to  do  historical  justice  to  each  individual.  The  reports 
of  the  commanders,  already  quoted,  must  therefore  close  the 
notice  of  personal  merit,  which  shone  forth  on  that  memorable 
occasion — memorable  not  only  in  the  annals  of  America,  but 
in  the  records  of  modern  warfare.  A  town,  situated  where 
nature  pointed  out  security,  protected  on  two  sides  by  moun 
tains,  and  on  two  others  by  a  continuous  series  of  fortresses ; 
every  house  constructed  as  if  defiance  to  enemies  rather  than 
shelter  to  friends  had  been  intended  ;  every  street  walled  up 
with  immovable  barriers ;  heavy  ordnance  on  every  com 
manding  elevation,  and  twelve  thousand  men  in  arms  to  defend 
every  accessible  point ;  a  town  thus  built  and  thus  fortified, 
was  in  three  days  entered  and  possessed  by  six  thousand  as 
sailants,  two-thirds  of  them  unused  not  only  to  battle,  but  even 
to  the  ordinary  hardships  of  military  life.  Commentary  cannot 
magnify  the  lustre  of  such  an  achievement.  If  it  is  right  and 
reasonable  to  applaud  actions,  involving  of  necessity  the  inflic 
tion  of  misery  and  the  sacrifice  of  life,  the  capture  of  Monterey 
is  one  to  command  unqualified  admiration. 

When  General  Ampudia's  desire  for  a  temporary  cessation 
of  the  assault  had  been  assented  to,  General  Taylor,  accom 
panied  by  several  officers,  met  him  on  the  24th  of  September, 
at  a  house  designated  for  a  conference.  The  Mexican  com 
mander  there  stated  officially,  that  commissioners  of  the  United 
States,  appointed  to  treat  with  Mexico  respecting  the  terms  of 
a  peace,  had  been  received  by  the  government  of  the  latter 
country  ;  and  further,  that  a  change  in  that  government  having 
taken  place,  the  orders  under  which  he  defended  Monterey 


COMMISSION    ON     CAPITULATION.         257 

were  no  longer  virtual.  Under  these  circumstances  he  pro 
fessed  to  desire  the  conference.  A  conversation  between  him 
and  General  Taylor  ensued,  when  it  was  discovered  that  the 
views  of  Ampudia  were  wholly  inadmissible,  and  that  no  set 
tlement  could  probably  be  made  without  a  further  appeal  to 
arms. 

At  this  stage  of  the  proceedings,  it  was  suggested  on  the 
part  of  Ampudia's  friends,  that  a  mixed  commission  should  be 
appointed  to  consider  the  terms  of  capitulation ;  which  being 
acceded  to,  General  Taylor  appointed  General  Worth,  General 
J.  P.  Henderson,  and  Colonel  Jefferson  Davis,  on  his  behalf; 
and  General  Ampudia  appointed  General  J.  Ma.  Ortega,  Gen 
eral  P.  Raguena,  and  Senor  M.  Ma.  Llano,  the  governor  of 
the  city.  The  instructions  of  General  Taylor  to  the  United 
States'  commissioners  were  embodied  by  them  in  the  following 
articles: 

Copy  of  demand  by  the  United  States*  Commissioners. 

"I.  As  the  legitimate  result  of  the  operations  before  this 
place,  and  the  present  position  of  the  contending  armies,  we 
demand  the  surrender  of  the  town,  the  arms  and  munitions  of 
war,  and  all  other  public  property  within  the  place. 

"  II.  That  the  Mexican  armed  force  retire  beyond  the  Rin- 
conada,  Linares,  and  San  Fernando,  on  the  coast. 

"  III.  The  commanding  general  of  the  army  of  the  United 
States  agrees  that  the  Mexican  officers  reserve  their  side  arms 
and  private  baggage;  and  the  troops  be  allowed  to  retire 
under  their  officers  without  parole,  a  reasonable  time  being 
allowed  to  withdraw  the  forces. 

"IV.  The  immediate  delivery  of  the  main  work,  now  occu 
pied,  to  the  army  of  the  United  States. 

«  V.  To  avoid  collisions,  and  for  mutual  convenience,  that 
the  troops  of  the  United  States  shall  not  occupy  the  town  until 
the  Mexican  forces  have  been  withdrawn,  except  for  hospital 
purposes,  store-houses,  &c. 

"  VI.  The  commanding  general  of  the  United  States  agrees 
not  to  advance  beyond  the  line  specified  in  the  second  section 


258     PROCEEDINGS    OF    COMMISSIONERS. 

before  the  expiration  of  eight  weeks,  or  until  the  respective 
governments  can  be  heard  from." 

The  subsequent  proceedings  of  the  commissioners  are  quoted 
from  the  minutes  of  them,  made,  and  afterwards  published  by 
Colonel  Davis,  one  of  the  commissioners.  He  says  :— 

"  The  terms  of  the  demand  were  refused  by  the  Mexican 
commissioners,  who  drew  up  a  counter  proposition,  of  which 
I  only  recollect  that  it  contained  a  permission  to  the  Mexican 
forces  to  retire  with  their  arms.  This  was  urged  as  a  matter 
of  soldierly  pride,  and  as  an  ordinary  courtesy.  We  had 
reached  the  limit  of  our  instructions,  and  the  commission  rose 
to  report  the  disagreement. 

"Upon  returning  to  the  reception  room,  after  the  fact  had 
been  announced  that  the  commissioners  could  not  agree  upon 
terms,  General  Ampudia  entered  at  length  upon  the  question, 
treating  the  point  of  disagreement  as  one  which  involved  the 
honour  of  his  country,  spoke  of  his  desire  for  a  settlement 
without  further  bloodshed,  and  said  he  did  not  care  about  the 
pieces  of  artillery  which  he  had  at  the  place.  General  Taylor 
responded  to  the  wish  to  avoid  unnecessary  bloodshed.  It  was 
agreed  the  commission  should  reassemble,  and  we  were  in 
structed  to  concede  the  small  arms ;  and  I  supposed  there 
would  be  no  question  about  the  artillery.  The  Mexican  com 
missioners  now  urged  that,  as  all  other  arms  had  been  recog 
nised,  it  would  be  discreditable  to  the  artillery  if  required  to 
march  out  without  any  thing  to  represent  their  arm,  and  stated, 
in  answer  to  an  inquiry,  that  they  had  a  battery  of  light  artil 
lery,  manoeuvred  and  equipped  as  such.  The  commission 
again  rose,  and  reported  the  disagreement  on  the  point  of 
artillery. 

"  General  Taylor  hearing  that  more  was  demanded  than  the 
middle  ground,  upon  which,  in  a  spirit  of  generosity,  he  had 
agreed  to  place  the  capitulation,  announced  the  conference 
at  an  end ;  and  rose  in  a  manner  which  showed  his  determina 
tion  to  talk  no  more.  As  he  crossed  the  room  to  leave  it,  one 
of  the  Mexican  commissioners  addressed  him,  auJ  some  con- 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    COMMISSIONERS.     259 

versation  which  I  did  not  hear  ensued.  General  Worth  asked 
permission  of  General  Taylor,  and  addressed  some  remarks  to 
General  Ampudia,  the  spirit  of  which  was  that  he  had  mani 
fested  throughout  the  negotiation,  viz :  generosity  and  leniency, 
and  a  desire  to  spare  the  further  effusion  of  blood.  The  com 
mission  reassembled,  and  the  points  of  capitulation  were  agreed 
upon.  After  a  short  recess  we  again  repaired  to  the  room  in 
which  we  had  parted  from  the  Mexican  commissioners ;  they 
were  tardy  in  joining  us,  and  slow  in  executing  the  instrument 
of  capitulation.  The  seventh,  eighth,  and  ninth  articles  were 
added  during  this  session.  At  a  late  hour  the  English  original 
was  handed  to  General  Taylor  for  his  examination ;  the  Span 
ish  original  having  been  sent  to  General  Ampudia.  General 
Taylor  signed  and  delivered  to  me  the  instrument  as  it  was 
submitted  to  him,  and  I  returned  to  receive  the  Spanish  copy 
with  the  signature  of  General  Ampudia,  and  send  that  having 
General  Taylor's  signature,  that  each  general  might  counter 
sign  the  original  to  be  retained  by  the  other.  General  Am 
pudia  did  not  sign  the  instrument  as  was  expected,  but  came 
himself  to  meet  the  commissioners.  He  raised  many  points 
which  had  been  settled,  and  evinced  a  disposition  to  make  the 
Spanish  differ  in  essential  points  from  the  English  instrument. 
General  Worth  was  absent.  Finally  he  was  required  to  sign 
the  instrument  prepared  for  his  own  commissioners,  and  the 
English  original  was  left  with  him  that  he  might  have  it  trans 
lated,  (which  he  promised  to  do  that  night,)  and  be  ready  the 
next  morning  with  a  Spanish  duplicate  of  the  English  instru 
ment  left  with  him.  By  this  means  the  two  instruments  would 
be  made  to  correspond,  and  he  be  compelled  to  admit  his 
knowledge  of  the  contents  of  the  English  original  before  he 
signed  it. 

"  The  next  morning  the  commission  again  met,  again  the  at 
tempt  was  made,  as  had  been  often  done  before  by  solicitation, 
to  gain  some  grant  in  addition  to  the  compact.  Thus  we  had, 
at  their  request,  adopted  the  word  capitulation  in  lieu  of  sur 
render  ;  they  now  wished  to  substitute  stipulation  for  capitula 
tion.  It  finally  became  necessary  to  make  a  peremptory  de 
mand  for  the  immediate  signing  of  the  English  instrument  by 


260  TERMS- OF    CAPITULATION. 

General  Ampudia,  and  the  literal  translation  (now  perfected) 
by  the  commissioners  and  their  general.  The  Spanish  instru 
ment  first  signed  by  General  Ampudia  was  destroyed  in  pre 
sence  of  his  commissioners  ;  the  translation  of  our  own  instru 
ment  was  countersigned  by  General  Taylor,  and  delivered. 
The  agreement  was  complete,  and  it  only  remained  to  execute 
the  terms." 

This  'agreement,  signed  by  the  commissioners,  was  in  the  fol 
lowing  form : 

Terms  of  capitulation  of  the  city  of  Monterey,  the  capital  of 
Nueva  Leon,  agreed  upon  by  the  undersigned  commissioners, 
to  wit :  General  Worth,  of  the  United  States  army,  General 
Henderson,  of  the  Texas  volunteers,  and  Colonel  Davis,  of 
the  Mississippi  riflemen,  on  the  part  of  Major  General  Taylor, 
commanding-in-chief  the  United  States  forces,  and  General 
Requena,  and  General  Ortega,  of  the  army  of  Mexico,  and 
Senor  Manuel  M.  Llano,  governor  of  Nueva  Leon,  on  the  part 
of  Senor  General  Don  Pedro  Ampudia,  commanding-in-chief 
the  army  of  the  north  of  Mexico. 

ART.  1.  As  the  legitimate  result  of  the  operations  before  this 
place,  and  the  present  position  of  the  contending  armies,  it  is 
agreed  that  the  city,  the  fortifications,  cannon,  the  munitions 
of  war,  and  all  other  public  property,  with  the  under-mentioned 
exceptions,  be  surrendered  to  the  commanding  general  of  the 
United  States  forces  now  at  Monterey. 

ART.  2.  That  the  Mexican  forces  be  allowed  to  retain  the 
following  arms,  to  wit :  the  commissioned  officers  their  side 
arms,  the  infantry  their  arms  and  accoutrements,  the  cavalry 
their  arms  and  accoutrements,  the  artillery  one  field  battery, 
not  to  exceed  six  pieces,  with  twenty-one  rounds  of  ammuni 
tion. 

ART.  3.  That  the  Mexican  armed  forces  retire  within  seven 
days  from  this  date,  beyond  the  line  formed  by  the  pass  of  the 
Rinconada,  the  city  of  Linares  and  San  Fernando  de  Presas. 

ART.  4.  That  the  citadel  at  Monterey  be  evacuated  by  the 
Mexican,  and  occupied  by  the  American  forces,  to-morrow 
morning  at  10  o'clock. 

ART.  5.  To  avoid  collisions,  and  for  mutual  convenience, 


EVACUATION     OF    THE    CITY.  261 

that  the  troops  of  the  United  States  will  not  occupy  the  city 
until  the  Mexican  forces  have  withdrawn,  except  for  hospital 
and  storage  purposes. 

ART.  6.  That  the  forces  of  the  United  States  will  not  ad 
vance  beyond  the  line  specified  in  the  2d  [3d]  article,  before 
the  expiration  of  eight  weeks,  or  until  the  orders  or  instructions 
of  the  respective  governments  can  be  received. 

ART.  7.  That  the  public  property  to  be  delivered  shall  be 
turned  over  and  received  by  officers  appointed  by  the  com 
manding  generals  of  the  two  armies. 

ART.  8.  That  all  doubts  as  to  the  meaning  of  any  of  the 
preceding  articles  shall  be  solved  by  an  equitable  con 
struction,  and  on  principles  of  liberality  to  the  retiring  army. 

ART.  9.  That  the  Mexican  flag,  when  struck  at  the  citadel, 
may  be  saluted  by  its  own  battery. 

Done  at  Monterey,  September  24,  1846. 

These  articles  were  signed  by  the  commissioners  already    " '^f! 
named. 

As  these  terms  gave  rise  to  much  comment  at  the  time,  and  „ 
exposed  General  Taylor  to  reproach  in  certain  quarters,  the 
grounds  on  which  he  admitted  them,  seemingly  too  lenient  to 
the  enemy,  will  be  considered  in  a  future  chapter.  The  evi 
dence  is  conclusive  that  his  justice,  prudence,  and  humanity 
were,  in  this  instance,  worthy  of  his  energy  and  courage. 

In  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  capitulation,  the  Mexican 
army  evacuated  Monterey.  The  movement  was  made  by  di 
visions  on  the  26th,  the  27th,  and  the  28th  of  September. 
Ampudia,  in  a  Proclamation  announcing  the  fact,  stated  that  he 
had  "suffered  great  scarcity  of  ammunition  and  provisions." 
The  ammunition  of  all  kinds,  found  by  General  Taylor  in  Mon 
terey,  was  superabundant, — and  the  misrepresentation  of  the 
fact  by  Ampudia,  proves  not  only  his  disregard  of  truth,  but 
his  recklessness  of  infamy. 

The  following  is  a  recapitulation,  from  the  official  report, 
of  the  killed,  wounded,  and  missing, — a  sad  proof  of  the  cost 
of  our  triumph  before  Monterey. 


262        LIST    OF    KILLED    AND    WOUNDED. 

KILLED    AND    WOUNDED    AT    THE    SIEGE    OF    MONTEREY. 

KILLED.  WOUNDED. 


=  et  3  .=  P  fan 

DIVISIONS. 


Ill  1  I.J 

I  >  ^  ^  1  >  I 

m  9  m  mm  0  -  • 

i       -5       3       1         i        I        I        | 
GENERAL  Twiees'.        O        *        O        *  &<          o         £ 

Second  Regiment  Dragoons         . .    4 9  . . 

First  Infantry 2  . .  14 2  . .  27  .. 

Second  Infantry 1 

Third  Infantry 5  . .  14  . .       2  . .  31  .. 

Fourth  Infantry 2  . .  1 1 23  .. 

Third  Artillery 4 ..  9... 

Light  Artillery . .  7  . . 

Baltimore  Battalion 1  . .    5 . .        . .     17 

Captain   Shriver's  Com-  ?  « 

pany  of  Texas  Vol'rs.  5 

[Killed  63,  wounded  127.]      9  ..  47  ..  1  ..     ft  ..JtV.'lOft  ..        ..     17 

GEKEHAL  WORTH'S. 

Artillery 8 12.. 

Fifth  Infantry 1..     9 

Seventh  Infantry 2..     7 1  . . 

Eighth  Infantry 1  . .     1 1  . .       6.. 

Phoenix  Company  of  Lou- ">  2                                               . 

isiana  Volunteers.         j 

Colonel  Hays'  Regiment  5  1          "7                                             17 

of  Texas  Volunteers.    5 

[Killed  39,  wounded  41.]..     4..26..T..     9...1..     19  ..""..    21 

GEXEHAL  BUTLER'S. 

General  Commanding  ....         . .     1  . . 

Kentucky  Regiment 5 

Ohio  Regiment 1..15 6  . .     32 

Tennessee  Regiment 2  . .  27 ..     4..     75 

Mississippi  Regiment ..        ..      ..9 5  . .     47 

Colonel    Wood's    Texas  7  9  . 

Rangers.  5 

[Killed  56,  wounded  224.]          . .         . .  3  . .  53 16  . .  208 

Grand  total iT. .  72~. .  6~. .  68*  . .  .~5  . .  Til  . .  16  . .  246 

Grand  total  killed 158 

Wounded 392 

Killed  and  wounded 550 

Missing 11 


Grand  total,  killed,  wounded,  and  missing 


OCCUPATION    OF    MONTEREY.  263 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Occupation  of  the  City  by  Worth's  Division  —  Encampment  of  Butler's  and 
Twiggs'  Divisions — Consideration  of  the  Terms  of  Capitulation — Implied 
Censure  by  Congress  of  the  Terms — Defence  of  the  same — Jefferson  Davis* 
Views  regarding  the  Capitulation — Taylor's  Letter  to  the  Adjutant  General, 
justifying  it — Private  Letter  on  the  same  Subject,  and  on  his  past  Operations 
and  future  Plans — Concluding  Remarks. 

As  soon  as  the  Mexican  army  had  evacuated  Monterey, 
General  Taylor  quartered  General  Worth's  Division  in  it,  and 
continued  the  two  other  divisions  of  his  army  at  the  grove  of 
San  Domingo,  the  only  woodland  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
city.  The  wounded  were  duly  cared  for,  and  all  who  had 
shared  the  labours  and  dangers  of  the  siege  enjoyed  a  period 
of  comparative  repose.  Immediate  measures,  however,  were 
adopted,  to  restore  and  improve  the  defences  of  the  city,  and 
to  be  prepared  for  future  active  operations  if  the  hostilities 
should  be  renewed.  Before  the, recital  of  General  Taylor's 
subsequent  movements  is  commenced,  it  is  proper  to  recur  to 
the  terms  of  the  capitulation.  A  portion  of  his  own  troops 
was  undoubtedly  at  the  moment  disappointed,  on  seeing  the 
Mexican  army  departing,  with  all  the  parade  of  music,  ban 
ners,  and  arms,  when  it  was  believed  to  be  wholly  at  the  mercy 
of  the  victors.  Time  and  reflection  dissipated  this  feeling, 
which  had  never  interfered  with  the  respect  or  confidence 
with  which  Taylor  had  previously  inspired  his  men.  But  con 
demnation  of  his  policy  was  seriously  avowed  in  a  quarter, 
which  affected  his  position  before  the  country.  When  the 
news  of  the  convention  of  Monterey  was  received  at  Wash 
ington,  it  found  little  favour  with  the  government,  or  with  a 
portion  of  the  administration  party  in  Congress.  When  a  re 
solution  of  thanks  to  General  Taylor,  and  the  army  under  his 
command,  for  their  gallantry  in  the  capture  of  Monterey,  was 
under  consideration,  a  proviso  was  offered  and  finally  adopted, 
in  these  words  :  "  That  nothing  herein  contained  shall  be  con 
strued  into  an  approbation  of  the  terms  of  the  capitulation  of 
Monterey."  The  friends  of  General  Taylor  contended  that 
23 


264   TERMS    OF    CAPITULATION    JUSTIFIED. 

this  proviso  was  in  effect  a  resolution  of  censure,  and  on  this 
ground  many  of  them  refused  to  vote  for  the  original  resolu 
tion  of  thanks.  It  becomes  necessary  to  show  how  entirely 
unmerited  was  this  deliberate  exception  to  his  conduct.  The 
first  proper  testimony  on  this  head  is  that  of  the  commissioners 
who  agreed  to  the  Convention.  They  are  men,  whose  intelli 
gence,  patriotism,  and  courage  are  above  suspicion,  and  who 
would  neither  have  counselled  nor  sanctioned  any  terms  short 
of  the  most  honourable  and  expedient  which  our  army  could 
have  enforced.  Colonel  Davis,  one  of  the  commissioners, 
ably  defended  the  convention  in  a  document  already  quoted, 
and  the  grounds  of  his  defence  were  fully  approved  by  General 
Worth.  That  document  takes  briefly  this  view  of  the  question : 

"  It  is  demonstrable,  from  the  position  and  known  prowess 
of  the  two  armies,  that  we  could  drive  the  enemy  from  the 
town ;  but  the  town  was  untenable  whilst  the  main  fort  (called 
the  new  citadel)  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Being 
without  siege  artillery  or  entrenching  tools,  we  could  only  hope 
to  carry  this  fort  by  storm,  after  a  heavy  loss  from  our  army ; 
which,  isolated  in  a  hostile  country,  now  numbered  less  than 
half  the  forces  of  the  enemy.  When  all  this  had  been  achieved, 
what  more  would  we  have  gained  than  by  the  capitulation  ? 

"  General  Taylor's  force  was  too  small  to  invest  the  town. 
It  was,  therefore,  always  in  the  power  of  the  enemy  to  retreat, 
bearing  his  light  arms.  Our  army,  poorly  provided,  and  with 
very  insufficient  transportation,  could  not  have  overtaken,  if 
they  had  pursued  the  flying  enemy.  Hence  the  conclusion, 
that  as  it  was  not  in  our  power  to  capture  the  main  body  of 
the  Mexican  army,  it  is  unreasonable  to  suppose  their  general 
would  have  surrendered  at  discretion.  The  moral  effect  of 
retiring  under  the  capitulation  was  certainly  greater  than  if  the 
enemy  had  retired  without  our  consent.  By  this  course  we 
secured  the  large  supply  of  ammunition  he  had  collected  in 
Monterey — which,  had  the  assault  been  continued,  must  have 
been  exploded  by  our  shells,  as  it  was  principally  stored  in  the 
<  Cathedral,'  which,  being  supposed  to  be  filled  with  troops, 
•was  the  especial  aim  of  our  pieces.  The  destruction  which 


DEFENCE    OF    THE    TERMS.     265 

this  explosion  would  have  produced  must  have  involved  the 
advance  of  both  divisions  of  our  troops ;  and  I  commend  this 
to  the  contemplation  of  those  whose  arguments  have  been 
drawn  from  facts  learned  since  the  commissioners  closed  their 
negotiations." 

The  correspondence  of  General  Taylor  further  elucidates  the 
respective  positions  of  his  own  and  the  enemy's  forces  at  the 
time  of  the  capitulation.  The  armistice  not  having  been  ap 
proved  by  the  President,  he  was  instructed  to  "give  the  requi 
site  notice,  that  the  armistice  was  to  cease  at  once,  and  that 
each  party  was  at  liberty  to  resume  and  prosecute  hostilities 
without  restriction."  The  reply  to  the  letter  enclosing  this 
order  is  subjoined.  It  is  addressed  to  the  Adjutant  General. 

«  Camp  near  Monterey,  November  8,  1846. 

"  SIR  :  In  reply  to  so  much  of  the  communication  of  the  Secre 
tary  of  War,  as  relates  to  the  reasons  which  induced  the  con 
vention  resulting  in  the  capitulation  of  Monterey,  I  have  the 
honour  to  submit  the  following  remarks. 

"  The  convention  presents  two  distinct  points  :  First,  the 
permission  granted  the  Mexican  army  to  retire  with  their  arms, 
&c.  Secondly,  the  temporary  cessation  of  hostilities  for  the 
term  of  eight  weeks.  I  shall  remark  on  these  in  order. 

"  The  force  with  which  I  marched  on  Monterey  was  limited 
by  causes  beyond  my  control  to  about  six  thousand  men.  With 
this  force,  as  every  military  man  must  admit,  who  has  seen  the 
ground,  it  was  entirely  impossible  to  invest  Monterey  so  closely 
as  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  garrison.  Although  the  main 
communication  with  the  interior  was  in  our  possession,  yet  one 
route  was  open  to  the  Mexicans  throughout  the  operations,  and 
could  not  be  closed,  as  were  also  other  minor  tracks  and  passes 
through  the  mountains.  Had  we,  therefore,  insisted  on  more 
rigorous  terms  than  those  granted,  the  result  would  have  been 
the  escape  of  the  body  of  the  Mexican  force,  with  the  destruc 
tion  of  its  artillery  and  magazines,  our  only  advantage  being 
the  capture  of  a  few  prisoners  of  war,  at  the  expense  of  valuable 
lives  and  much  damage  to  the  city.  The  consideration  of  hu- 


266   MILITARY    POINTS    IN    THE    QUESTION. 

manity  was  present  to  my  mind  during  the  conference  which 
led  to  the  convention,  and  outweighed,  in  my  judgment,  the 
doubtful  advantages  to  be  gained  by  a  resumption  of  the  attack 
upon  the  town.  This  conclusion  has  been  fully  confirmed  by 
an  inspection  of  the  enemy's  position  and  means  since  the  sur 
render.  It  was  discovered  that  his  principal  magazine,  con 
taining  an  immense  amount  of  powder,  was  in  the  Cathedral, 
completely  exposed  to  our  shells  from  two  directions.  The 
explosion  of  this  mass  of  powder,  which  must  have  ultimately 
resulted  from  a  continuance  of  the  bombardment,  would  have 
been  infinitely  disastrous,  involving  the  destruction  not  only 
of  Mexican  troops,  but  of  non-combatants,  and  even  our  own 
people,  had  we  pressed  the  attack. 

"  In  regard  to  the  temporary  cessation  of  hostilities,  the  fact 
that  we  are  not  at  this  moment,  within  eleven  days  of  the  termi 
nation  of  the  period  fixed  by  the  convention,  prepared  to  move 
forward  in  force,  is  a  sufficient  explanation  of  the  military  reasons 
which  dictated  this  suspension  of  arms.  It  paralyzed  the  enemy 
during  a  period  when,  from  the  want  of  ^necessary  means,  we 
could  not  possibly  move.  1  desire  distinctly  to  state,  and  to 
call  the  attention  of  the  authorities  to  the  fact,  that,  with  all 
diligence  in  breaking  mules  and  setting  up  wagons,  the  first 
wagons  in  addition  to  our  original  train  from  Corpus  Christi, 
(and  but  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  in  number,)  reached  my 
head-quarters  on  the  same  day  with  the  secretary's  communi 
cation  of  October  13th,  viz  :  the  2d  inst.  At  the  date  of  the 
surrender  of  Monterey,  our  force  had  not  more  than  ten  days' 
rations,  and  even  now,  with  all  our  endeavours,  we  have  not 
more  than  twenty-five.  THE  TASK  OF  FIGHTING  AND  BEATING 

THE  ENEMY  IS  AMONG  THE  LEAST  DIFFICULT  THAT  WE  EN 
COUNTER — the  great  question  of  supplies  necessarily  controls 
all  the  operations  in  a  country  like  this.  At  the  date  of  the 
convention,  I  could  not  of  course  have  foreseen  that  the  Depart 
ment  would  direct  an  important  detachment  from  my  command 
without  consulting  me,  or  without  waiting  the  result  of  the 
main  operation  under  my  orders. 

u  I  Jiave  touched  the  prominent  military  points  involved  in 


NATIONAL    CONSIDERATIONS.  267 

the  convention  of  Monterey.  There  were  other  considerations 
which  weighed  with  the  commissioners  in  framing,  and  with 
myself  in  approving  the  articles  of  the  convention.  In  the 
conference  with  General  Ampudia,  I  was  distinctly  told  by  him 
that  he  had  invited  it  to  spare  the  further  effusion  of  blood, 
and  because  General  Santa  Anna  had  declared  himself  favorable 
to  peace.  I  knew  that  our  government  had  made  propositions 
to  that  of  Mexico  to  negotiate,  and  I  deemed  that  the  change 
of  government  in  that  country  since  my  instructions,  fully  war- 
ranted  me  in  entertaining  considerations  of  policy.  My  grand 
motive  in  moving  forward  with  very  limited  supplies  had  been 
to  increase  the  inducements  of  the  Mexican  Government  to  ne 
gotiate  for  peace.  Whatever  may  be  the  actual  views  or  dis 
position  of  the  Mexican  rulers  or  of  General  Santa  Anna,  it  is* 
not  unknown  to  the  Government  that  I  had  the  very  best  reason 
for  believing  the  statement  of  General  Ampudia  to  be  true.  It 
was  my  opinion  at  the  time  of  the  convention,  and  it  has  not 
been  changed,  that  the  liberal  treatment  of  the  Mexican  army, 
and  the  suspension  of  arms,  would  exert  none  but  a  favorable 
influence  in  our  behalf. 

"  The  result  of  the  entire  operation  has  been  to  throw  the 
Mexican  army  back  more  than  three  hundred  miles  to  the  city 
of  San  Luis  Potosi,  and  to  open  the  country  to  us  as  far  as  we 
choose  to  penetrate  it  up  to  the  same  point. 

"  It  has  been  my  purpose  in  this  communication  not  so  much 
to  defend  the  convention  from  the  censure  which  I  deeply  re 
gret  to  find  implied  in  the  secretary's  letter,  as  to  show  that  it 
was  not  adopted  without  cogent  reasons,  most  of  which  occur 
of  themselves  to  the  minds  of  all  who  are  acquainted  with  the 
condition  of  things  here.  To  that  end  I  beg  that  it  may  be 
laid  before  the  General-in- chief  and  Secretary  of  War." 

The  nature  of  the  assaults  made  on  General  Taylor,  in  con 
sequence  of  the  capitulation  so  ably  and  conclusively  defended 
and  justified  in  the  foregoing  official  letter,  induced  one  of  his 
friends,  whom  he  had  privately  addressed  on  the  same  subject, 
in  connection  with  a  general  review  of  his  operations,  to  per- 
23* 


268  PRIVATE    LETTER    OF    TAYLOR. 

rT^V,      »  *     * 

mit  the  publication  of  a  letter  not  intended  for  the  public  eye. 
That  letter  superadds  such  testimony  in  favour  of  his  whole 
course,  that  being  already  before  the  world,  it  would  be  an 
affectation  injurious  to  his  reputation  to  exclude  it  from  these 
pages.  It  is  the  more  interesting,  therefore,  as  an  unstudied 
and  frank  exposition  of  his  conduct  and  motives,  and  of  the 
difficulties  which  he  encountered  in  the  fulfilment  of  the  mo 
mentous  duties  imposed  upon  him.  Portions  of  the  letter  were 
suppressed  in  the  original  publication.  It  is  here  given  as  it 
first  appeared. 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation  or  Invasion. 
Monterey,  Mexico,  Nov.  5,  1846. 

My  DEAR     ******* 

Your  very  kind  and  acceptable  letter  of  the  31st  of  August, 
********  reached  me  only  a  short  time  since 
for  which  I  beg  leave  to  tender  to  you  my  sincere  thanks.  [A 
few  confidential  remarks  on  certain  public  transactions  are  here 
omitted.] 

After  considerable  apparent  delay  on  the  part  of  the  Quarter 
master's  Department,  in  getting  steamboats  into  the  Rio  Grande 
adapted  to  its  navigation,  I  succeeded,  towards  the  latter  part 
of  August,  in  throwing  forward  to  Camargo,  (a  town  situated 
on  the  San  Juan  river,  three  miles  from  its  junction  with  the 
Rio  Grande,  on  the  west  side,  nearly  five  hundred  miles  from 
Brazos  Island  by  water,  and  two  hundred  by  land,  and  one 
hundred  and  forty  from  this  place,)  a  considerable  depot  of 
provisions,  ordnance,  ammunition,  and  forage,  and  then,  having 
brought  together  an  important  portion  of  my  command,  I  de 
termined  on  moving  on  this  place.  Accordingly,  after  collect 
ing  1700  pack  mules,  with  their  attendants  and  conductors,  in 
the  enemy's  country,  (the  principal  means  of  transportation  for 
our  provisions,  baggage,  &c.,)  I  left,  on  the  5th  of  September, 
to  join  my  advance,  which  had  preceded  me  a  few  days  to  Se- 
ralvo,  a  small  village  seventy-five  miles  on  the  route,  which  I 
did  on  the  9th,  and,  after  waiting  there  a  few  days  for  some  of 
the  corps  to  get  up,  moved  on  and  reached  here  on  the  19th, 
with  6250  men — 2700  regulars,  the  balance  volunteers.  For 


THE    CAPITULATION    JUSTIFIED.          269 

what  took  place  afterwards  I  must  refer  you  to  several  reports, 
particularly  to  my  detailed  one  of  the  9th  ult.  I  do  not  be 
lieve  the  authorities  at  Washington  are  at  all  satisfied  with  my 
conduct  in  regard  to  the  terms  of  capitulation  entered  into  with 
the  Mexican  commander,  which  you  no  doubt  have  seen,  as 
they  have  been  made  public  through  the  official  organ,  and 
copied  into  various  other  newspapers.  I  have  this  moment 
received  an  answer  (to  my  despatch  announcing  the  surrender 
of  Monterey,  and  the  circumstances  attending  the  same,)  from 
the  Secretary  of  War,  stating  that  "  it  was  regretted  by  the 
President  that  it  was  not  advisable  to  insist  on  the  terms  I  had 
proposed  in  my  communication  to  the  Mexican  commander,  in 
regard  to  giving  up  the  city," — adding  that  "the  circum 
stances  which  dictated,  no  doubt  justified  the  change."  Al 
though  the  terms  of  capitulation  may  be  considered  too  liberal 
on  our  part  by  the  President  and  his  advisers,  as  well  as  by 
many  others  at  a  distance,  particularly  by  those  who  do  not 
understand  the  position  which  we  occupied,  (otherwise  they 
might  come  to  a  different  conclusion  in  regard  to  the  matter,) 
yet,  on  due  reflection,  I  see  nothing  to  induce  me  to  regret  the 
course  I  pursued. 

The  proposition  on  the  part  of  General  Ampudia,  which  had 
much  to  do  in  determining  my  course  in  the  matter,  was  based 
on  the  ground  that  our  government  had  proposed  to  his  to  set 
tle  existing  difficulties  by  negotiation,  (which  I  knew  was  the 
case,  without  knowing  the  result,)  which  was  then  under  con 
sideration  by  the  proper  authorities,  and  which  he  (General 
Ampudia,)  had  no  doubt  would  result  favourably,  as  the  whole 
of  his  people  were  in  favour  of  peace.  If  so,  I  considered  the 
further  effusion  of  blood  not  only  unnecessary,  but  improper. 
Their  force  was  also  considerably  larger  than  ours ;  and,  from 
the  size  and  position  of  the  place,  we  could  not  completely 
invest  it ;  so  that  the  greater  portion  of  their  troops,  if  not  the 
whole,  had  they  been  disposed  to  do  so,  could,  any  night, 
have  abandoned  the  city  at  once,  entered  the  mountain  passes, 
and  effected  their  retreat,  do  what  we  could !  Had  we  been 
put  to  the  alternative  of  taking  the  place  by  storm,  (which  there 


270       TAYLOR'S  VIEWS  ON  THE  WAR. 

is  no  doubt  we  should  have  succeeded  in  doing,)  we  should, 
in  all  probability,  have  lost  fifty  or  one  hundred  men  in  killed, 
besides  the  wounded,  which  I  wished  to  avoid,  as  there  ap 
peared  to  be  a  prospect  of  peace,  even  if  a  distant  one.  I 
also  wished  to  avoid  the  destruction  of  women  and  children, 
which  must  have  been  very  great,  had  the  storming  process 
been  resorted  to.  Besides,  they  had  a  very  large  and  strong 
fortification,  a  short  distance  from  the  city,  which,  if  carried 
with  the  bayonet,  must  have  been  taken  at  great  sacrifice  of 
life  ;  and,  with  our  limited  train  of  heavy  or  battering  artillery, 
it  would  have  required  twenty  or  twenty-five  days  to  take  it  by 
regular  approaches. 

That  they  should  have  surrendered  a  place  nearly  as  strong 
as  Quebec,  well  fortified  under  the  direction  of  skilful  engi 
neers,  their  works  garnished  with  forty-two  pieces  of  artillery, 
abundantly  supplied  with  ammunition,  garrisoned  by  7000  re 
gulars  and  2000  irregular  troops,  in  addition  to  some  thousand 
citizens  capable  of,  and  no  doubt  actually,  bearing  arms,  and 
aiding  in  its  defence,  to  an  opposing  force  of  half  their  number, 
scantily  supplied  with  provisions,  and  with  a  light  train  of  ar 
tillery,  is  among  the  unaccountable  occurrences  of  the  times. 

I  am  decidedly  opposed  to  carrying  the  war  beyond  Saltillo 
in  this  direction,  which  place  has  been  entirely  abandoned  by 
the  Mexican  forces,  all  of  whom  have  been  concentrated  at 
San  Luis  Potosi ;  and  I  shall  lose  no  time  in  taking  possession 
of  the  former  as  soon  as  the  cessation  of  hostilities  referred  to 
expires,  which  I  have  notified  the  Mexican  authorities  will  be 
the  close  on  the  13th  instant,  by  direction  of  the  President  of 
the  United  States.  £  £ -.;: 

If  we  are  (in  the  language  of  Mr.  Polk  and  General  Scott) 
under  the  necessity  of  "  conquering  a  peace,"  and  that  by  tak 
ing  the  capital  of  the  country,  we  must  go  to  Vera  Cruz,  take 
that  place,  and  then  march  on  the  city  of  Mexico.  To  do  so 
in  any  other  direction,  I  consider  out  of  the  question.  But, 
admitting  that  we  conquer  a  peace  by  doing  so,  say  at  the  end 
of  the  next  twelve  months,  will  the  amount  of  blood  and 
treasure,  which  must  be  expended  in  doing  so,  be  compensated 


HIS    PLAN    OF    SECURING    PEACE.          271 

by  the  same  ?  I  think  not — especially,  if  the  country  we  sub 
due  is  to  be  given  up ;  and  I  imagine  there  are  but  few  indi 
viduals  in  our  country  who  think  of  annexing  Mexico  to  the 
United  States. 

I  do  not  intend  to  carry  on  my  operations  (as  previously 
stated)  beyond  Saltillo,  deeming  it  next  to  impracticable  to  do 
so.  It  then  becomes  a  question  as  to  what  is  best  to  be  done. 
It  seems  to  me,  the  most  judicious  course  to  be  pursued  on 
our  part,  would  be  to  take  possession  at  once  of  the  line  we 
would  accept  by  negotiation,  extending  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
to  the  Pacific,  and  occupy  the  same,  or  keep  what  we  already 
have  possession  of ;  and  that,  with  Tampico,  (which  I  hope  to 
take  in  the  course  of  next  month,  or  as  soon  as  I  can  get  the 
means  of  transportation,)  will  give  us  all  on  this  side  of  the 
Sierra  Madre,  and  as  soon  as  I  occupy  Saltillo,  will  include 
six  or  seven  states  or  provinces,  thus  holding  Tampico,  Vic 
toria,  Monterey,  Saltillo,  Monclova,  Chihuahua,  (which,  I  pre 
sume,  General  Wool  has  possession  of  by  this  time)  Santa  Fe, 
and  the  Californias,  and  say  to  Mexico,  "  drive  us  from  the 
country !" — throwing  on  her  the  responsibility  and  expense  of 
carrying  on  offensive  war — at  the  same  time  closely  blockading 
all  her  ports  on  the  Pacific  and  the  Gulf.  A  course  of  this 
kind,  if  persevered  in  for  a  short  time,  would  soon  bring  her 
to  her  proper  senses,  and  compel  her  to  sue  for  peace — pro 
vided  there  is  a  government  in  the  country  sufficiently  stable 
for  us  to  treat  with,  which  I  fear  will  hardly  be  the  case  for 
many  years  to  come.  Without  large  reinforcements  of  volun 
teers  from  the  United  States,  say  ten  or  fifteen  thousand,  (those 
previously  sent  out  having  already  been  greatly  reduced  by 
sickness  and  other  casualties),  I  do  not  believe  it  would  be 
advisable  to  march  beyond  Saltillo,  which  is  more  than  two 
hundred  miles  beyond  our  depots  on  the  Rio  Grande,  a  very 
long  line  on  which  to  keep  up  supplies  (over  a  land  route  in  a 
country  like  this)  for  a  large  force,  and  certain  to  be  attended 
with  an  expense  which  it  will  be  frightful  to  contemplate,  when 
closely  looked  into. 

From  Saltillo  to  San  Luis  Potosi,  the  next  place  of  import- 


272     STATEMENT    OF    HIS    DIFFICULTIES. 

ance  on  the  road  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  is  three  hundred  miles, 
one  hundred  and  forty  badly  watered,  where  no  supplies  of 
any  kind  could  be  procured  for  men  or  horses.  I  have  informed 
the  war  department  that  20,000  efficient  men  would  be  neces 
sary  to  insure  success  if  wre  move  on  that  place,  (a  city  con 
taining  a  population  of  60,000,  where  the  enemy  could  bring 
together  and  sustain,  besides  the  citizens,  an  army  of  50,000) 
a  force  which,  I  apprehend,  will  hardly  be  collected  by  us, 
with  the  train  necessary  to  feed  it,  as  well  as  to  transport  va 
rious  other  supplies,  particularly  ordnance  and  munitions  of 
war. 

In  regard  to  the  armistice,  which  would  have  expired  by 
limitation  in  a  few  days,  we  lost  nothing  by  it,  as  we  could  not 
move  even  now,  had  the  enemy  continued  to  occupy  Saltillo ; 
for,  strange  to  say,  the  first  wagon  which  has  reached  me  since 
the  declaration  of  war  was  on  the  2d  instant,  the  same  day  on 
which  I  received  from  Washington  an  acknowledgment  of  my 
despatch  announcing  the  taking  of  Monterey ;  and  then  I  re 
ceived  only  one  hundred  and  twenty-five,  so  that  I  have  been, 
since  May  last,  completely  crippled,  and  am  still  so,  for  want 
of  transportation.  After  raking  and  scraping  the  country  for 
miles  around  Camargo,  collecting  every  pack  mule  and  other 
means  of  transportation,  I  could  bring  here  only  80,000  rations, 
(fifteen  days'  supply,)  with  a  moderate  supply  of  ordnance, 
ammunition,  &c.,  to  do  which,  all  the  corps  had  to  leave  behind 
a  portion  of  their  camp  equipage  necessary  for  their  comfort, 
and,  in  some  instances,  among  the  volunteers,  their  personal 
baggage.  I  moved  in  such  a  way,  and  with  such  limited 
means,  that,  had  I  not  succeeded,  I  should  no  doubt  have  been 
severely  reprimanded,  if  nothing  worse.  I  did  so  to  sustain 

the  administration, 

*  *  *  *  * 

Of  the  two  regiments  of  mounted  men  from  Tennessee  and 
Kentucky,  who  left  their  respective  states  to  join  me,  in  June, 
the  latter  has  just  reached  Camargo  ;  the  former  had  not  got 
to  Matamoros  at  the  latest  dates  from  there.  Admitting  that 
they  will  be  as  long  in  returning  as  in  getting  here,  (to  say  no- 


POPULAR  APPROBATION  OF  TAYLOR.  273 

thing  of  the  time  necessary  to  recruit  their  horses)  and  were  to 
be  discharged  in  time  to  reach  their  homes,  they  could  serve  in 
Mexico  but  a  very  short  time.  The  foregoing  remarks  are  not 
made  with  the  view  of  finding  fault  with  any  one,  but  to  point 
out  the  difficulties  with  which  I  have  had  to  contend. 

Monterey,  the  capital  of  New  Leon,  is  situated  on  the  San 
Juan  river,  where  it  comes  out  of  the  mountains,  the  city  (which 
contains  a  population  of  about  twelve  thousand)  being  in  part 
surrounded  by  them,  at  the  head  of  a  large  and  beautiful  val 
ley.  The  houses  are  of  stone,  in  the  Moorish  style,  with  flat 
roofs,  which,  with  their  strongly  enclosed  yards  and  gardens, 
in  high  stone  walls  all  looped  for  musketry,  make  them  each  a 
fortress  within  itself.  It  is  the  most  important  place  in  Northern 
Mexico,  or  on  the  east  side  of  the  Sierra  Madre,  commanding 
the  only  pass  or  road  for  carriages  from  this  side,  between  it 
and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  to  the  table  lands  of  the  Sierra,  by 
or  through  which  the  city  of  Mexico  can  be  reached. 

I  much  fear  I  shall  have  exhausted  your  patience,  before  you 
get  half  through  this  long  and  uninteresting  letter.  If  so,  you 
can  only  commit  it  to  the  flames,  and  think  no  more  about  it, 
as  I  write  in  great  haste,  besides  being  interrupted  every  five 
minutes ;  so  that  you  must  make  great  allowances  for  blots, 
interlineations,  and  blunders,  as  well  as  want  of  connection  in 
many  parts  of  the  same. 

Be  so  good  as  to  present  me  most  kindly  to  your  excellent 
lady,  and  accept  my  sincere  wishes  for  your  continued  health, 
prosperity,  and  fame. 

I  remain,  truly  and  sincerely,  your  friend, 

Z.  TAYLOR. 

It  is  conceived  that  the  foregoing  correspondence  thoroughly 
sustains  General  Taylor  in  the  apparently  liberal  terms  which 
he  allowed  Ampudia  in  the  capitulation  of  Monterey.  Public 
opinion  sustained  him  from  the  first ;  and,  it  is  believed,  that 
there  are  few  now  so  bold  as  to  except  to  his  course.  If  so, 
it  is  the  only  instance  in  the  many  and  arduous  tasks  which  he 
has  executed  since  the  commencement  of  the  Mexican  war, 


274  TAYLOR'S  FORCES  AT  MONTEREY. 

which  even  his  enemies  could  seize  upon  as  worthy  of  exception. 
Tried  in  every  emergency,  he  has  been  found  equal  to  the  trust 
reposed  in  him.  So  has  the  nation  felt,  so  has  it  spoken,  when, 
with  one  indignant  voice,  it  crushed  a  suggestion  that  he 
should  be  superseded  in  the  field  of  his  many  extraordinary 
trials  and  triumphs. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Taylor's  Force  after  the  Capitulation  of  Monterey — Reflections  on  his  Cours 
Advices  from  Washington — Instructions  regarding  Supplies — Regarding  an 
Expedition  against  the  Coast — Further  Correspondence — Taylor's  Replies — 
Opinions  regarding  his  own  future  Operations — Regarding  the  Force  requisite 
to  invest  Vera  Cruz — Assertion  of  his  Rights  as  Commander — Answer  to  the 
Secretary  respecting  forced  Supplies — General  Wool's  Entry  into  Monclova. 

THE  correspondence  of  General  Taylor,  given  in  the  pre 
ceding  pages,  for  the  purpose  of  elucidating  the  single  subject 
of  the  capitulation  of  Monterey,  contains,  also,  references  to 
other  matters  which  have  not  yet  been  presented  in  a  narrative 
form.  To  these  it  is  necessary  to  revert,  in  order  that  the  posi 
tion  of  the  army  under  Taylor's  command,  and  the  plans  of  the 
War  Department,  affecting  its  strength  and  movements,  may  be 
fully  understood. 

The  capture  of  Monterey  found  the  army  reduced  at  that 
place  to  an  effective  force  of  about  five  thousand  five  hundred 
men.  This  small  number  was  soon  further  diminished  by  sick 
ness,  occasioned  by  the  climate,  the  season,  and  hardship,  to 
which  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  men  were  wholly  unused. 
General  Taylor's  letters  have  shown  that,  had  no  armistice  been 
agreed  upon,  he  would  still  have  been  unable  to  make  any  im 
portant  hostile  demonstration  far  beyond  Monterey.  It  is  true 
that  a  large  body  of  volunteers  was  at  different  points  on  the 
Rio  Grande  ;  but  the  difficulty  of  subsistence,  on  a  line  already 
extended  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  forbade  the  immediate 


FAILURE    OF    PEACE    OVERTURES. 


275 


advance  of  the  army.  This  was  a  difficulty  apprehended  by 
Taylor  from  the  first,  and  for  which  he  was  in  no  sense  respon 
sible.  At  the  moment  that  the  operations  against  Monterey 
were  in  progress,  a  change  of  policy,  as  regards  the  mode  of 
procuring  supplies,  was  recommended  by  the  government. 

Advices  having  been  received  at  Washington  that  a  new 
effort  to  secure  peace  by  negotiation  had  failed — the  reliance 
on  Santa  Anna's  pacific  disposition  having  been  rnisplaced^- 
the  Secretary  of  War  wrote  to  General  Taylor  that  this  deter 
mination  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  suggested  a  change  of 
policy  in  regard  to  our  dealings  with  the  people  of  the  country 
occupied  by  our  troops.  On  this  particular  subject  the  Secre 
tary  continued  his  instructions,  under  date  of  the  22d  of  Sep 
tember,  in  these  terms : 

"  Public  opinion,  it  is  to  be  presumed,  will  have  some  influ 
ence  upon  the  decision  of  that  congress.  The  progress  of  our 
arms,  and  the  positions  we  may  occupy  when  that  body  shall 
come  together,  cannot  fail  to  have  effect  upon  its  action  in  re 
gard  to  our  proposal  to  negotiate.  Should  the  campaign  be 
successful,  and  our  troops  be  in  possession  of  important  de 
partments  of  the  enemy's  country,  the  inducement  for  a  speedy 
peace  will  be  greatly  strengthened. 

"  It  is  far  from  being  certain  that  our  military  occupation  of 
the  enemy's  country  is  not  a  blessing  to  the  inhabitants  in  the 
vicinity.  They  are  shielded  from  the  burdens  and  exactions 
of  their  own  authorities,  protected  in  their  persons,  and  fur 
nished  with  a  most  profitable  market  for  most  kinds  of  their 
property.  A  state  of  things  so  favourable  to  their  interests 
may  induce  them  to  wish  the  continuance  of  hostilities. 

"The  instructions  heretofore  given  have  required  you  to 
treat  with  great  kindness  the  people,  to  respect  private  pro 
perty,  and  to  abstain  from  appropriating  it  to  the  public  use 
without  purchase  at  a  fair  price.  In  some  respects,  this  is 
going  far  beyond  the  common  requirements  of  civilized  war 
fare.  An  invading  army  has  the  unquestionable  right  to  draw 
its  supplies  from  the  enemy  without  paying  for  them,  and  to 
require  contributions  for  its  support.  It  may  be  proper,  and 
24 


276   INSTRUCTIONS    REGARDING    SUPPLIES. 

good  policy  requires  that  discriminations  should  be  made  in 
imposing  these  burdens.  Those  who  are  friendly  disposed  or 
contribute  aid  should  be  treated  with  liberality  ;  yet  the  enemy 
may  be  made  to  feel  the  weight  of  the  war,  and  thereby  be 
come  interested  to  use  their  best  efforts  to  bring  about  a  state 
of  peace., 

11  It  is  also  but  just  that  a  nation  which  is  involved  in  a  war,  to 
obtain  justice  or  to  maintain  its  just  rights,  should  shift  the 
burden  of  it,  as  far  as  practicable,  from  itself,  by  throwing  it 
upon  the  enemy. 

"  Upon  the  liberal  principles  of  civilized  warfare,  either  of 
three  modes  may  be  pursued  in  relation  to  obtaining  supplies 
from  the  enemy ;  first  to  purchase  them  on  such  terms  as  the 
inhabitants  of  the  country  may  choose  to  exact ;  second,  to 
pay  a  fair  price  without  regard  to  the  enhanced  value  resulting 
from  the  presence  of  a  foreign  army;  and  third,  to  require 
them  as  contributions,  without  paying  or  engaging  to  pay 
therefor. 

"  The  last  mode  is  the  ordinary  one,  and  you  are  instructed 
to  adopt  it,  if  in  that  way  you  are  satisfied  you  can  get  abun 
dant  supplies  for  your  forces ;  but  should  you  apprehend  a  dif 
ficulty  in  this  respect,  then  you  will  adopt  the  policy  of  paying 
the  ordinary  price,  without  allowing  to  the  owners  the  advan 
tages  of  the  enhancement  of  the  price  resulting  from  the  in 
creased  demand.  Should  you  apprehend  a  deficiency  under 
this  last  mode  of  dealing  with  the  inhabitants,  you  will  be 
obliged  to  submit  to  their  exactions,  provided  by  this  mode 
you  can  supply  your  wants  on  better  terms  than  by  drawing 
what  you  may  need  from  the  United  States.  Should  you 
attempt  to  supply  your  troops  by  contributions,  or  the  appro 
priation  of  private  property,  you  will  be  careful  to  exempt  the 
property  of  all  foreigners  from  any  and  all  exactions  whatso 
ever.  The  President  hopes  you  will  be  able  to  derive  from 
the  enemy's  country,  without  expense  to  the  United  States, 
the  supplies  you  may  need,  or  a  considerable  part  of  them ; 
but  should  you  fail  in  this,  you  will  procure  them  in  the  most 
economical  manner." 


•  -i 

EXPEDITION    AGAINST    TAMPICO.         277 

The  same  communication  of  the  Secretary,  from  which  the 
foregoing  extracts  are  made,  sets  forth  the  plan  of  the  govern 
ment  in  the  prosecution  of  the  war.  This  plan  was  subse 
quently  modified,  but  as  the  instructions  concerning  it  were 
partially  fulfilled,  they  are  here  inserted  as  a  necessary  expla 
nation  of  General  Taylor's  movements.  The  Secretary  says: 

"It  is  proposed  to  take  possession  of  the  department  of 
Tamaulipas,  or  some  of  the  principal  places  in  it,  at  the  earliest 
practicable  period.  In  this  enterprize,  it  is  believed  that  a  co 
operation  of  our  squadron  in  the  gulf  will  be  important,  if  not 
necessary.  It  is  presumed  that  a  force  of  about  three  or  four 
thousand  men  will  be  sufficient  for  this  purpose  —  one  third 
of  which  should  be  of  the  regular  army. 

"  We  have  not  now  sufficiently  accurate  knowledge  of  the 
country  to  determine  definitely  as  to  the  manner  of  conducting 
this  enterprize.  The  dangerous  navigation  of  the  gulf  at  this 
season  of  the  year,  induces  the  hope  that  a  column  may  be 
advanced  by  land  from  the  present  base  of  operations  —  the 
Rio  Grande ;  and  that  it  may  have  an  occasional  communica 
tion  with  our  ships  in  the  gulf.  Should  this  land  route  be 
adjudged  impracticable,  or  a  debarkation  be  preferred,  two 
points  of  landing  have  been  suggested,  one  at  the  Bay  of  Sant- 
ander,  and  the  other  at  Tampico.  If  a  force  be  landed  at  the 
Bay  of  Santander,  or  in  the  vicinity  of  Soto  la  Marina,  it 
could  probably  reach,  without  much  difficulty,  some,  of  the 
principal  places  in  the  department  of  Tamaulipas,  and  march 
to,  and  take  possession  of  Tampico ;  while  the  route  is  yet 
open  to  be  settled,  as  a  better  knowledge  of  the  country  may 
indicate,  it  is  proper  to  speak  more  in  detail  of  the  force  to  be 
employed  on  this  service. 

"  It  is  not  proposed  to  withdraw  any  of  that  now  with  you 
in  your  advance  into  the  interior,  nor  to  divert  any  of  the  rein 
forcements  that  you  may  need  to  carry  on  your  operations  in 
that  quarter.  It  is  believed  that  a  sufficient  force  of  the  regular 
army  for  this  expedition — about  one  regiment — may  be  drawn 
from  the  sea-board,  including  such  companies  as  may  have 
been  left  on  the  lower  Rio  Grande,  and  can  be  spared  for  that 


278  INSTRUCTIONS  TO  GEN.  PATTERSON. 

purpose.  If  a  column  should  advance  beyond  that  river  into 
the  interior  of  Tamaulipas,  a  part  of  the  troops  now  on  that 
line,  might,  it  is  presumed,  be  safely  withdrawn  to  augment 
the  invading  column.  It  is  not,  however,  intended  to  weaken 
the  force  on  that  line  any  further  than  it  can,  in  your  opinion, 
be  safely  done. 

"It  is  also  proposed  to  put  the  force  for  the  invasion  of 
Tamaulipas  under  the  immediate  command  of  Major  General 
Patterson,  to  be  accompanied  by  Brigadier  Generals  Pillow  and 
Shields,  unless  it  should  interfere  with  your  previous  arrange 
ment  with  regard  to  these  officers.  To  prevent  delay,  General 
Patterson  will  be  directed  to  make  preparations  for  this  move 
ment,  so  far  as  it  can  be  done  without  disturbing  your  present 
arrangements  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  proceed  immediately, 
and  without  further  orders  from  the  Department,  unless  you 
should  be  of  opinion  that  the  withdrawal  of  the  force  proposed 
for  this  expedition,  would  interfere  with  your  operations.  This 
direction  is  given  to  General  Patterson,  because  the  time  ne 
cessary  to  receive  information  from  you  and  return  an  answer 
from  the  department,  may  be  the  propitious  moment  for  ope 
rating  with  effect.  The  movement  ought  to  be  made  with  the 
least  possible  delay  consistently  with  the  health  of  the  troops. 
It  will  be  left  to  General  Patterson,  under  your  instructions,  to 
decide  whether  the  movement  shall  be  by  land  or  sea,  or  partly 
by  each.  It  is  desired  that  you  should  give  him  your  views  in 
regard  to  the  last  mode  of  prosecuting  this  expedition,  parti 
cularly  as  to  the  amount  and  description  of  force,  and  the 
quantity  and  kind  of  ordnance,  &c.,  &c.,  which  may  be  re 
quired.  Preparatory  arrangements  will  be  immediately  ordered 
here  for  fitting  out  the  expedition  therein  proposed,  by  which 
transports,  provisions,  &c.,  will  be  in  readiness  at  the  Brazos 
Santiago.  By  the  time  this  communication  will  be  received 
by  you,  it  is  expected  that  you  will  have  reached  Monterey, 
and  perhaps  Saltillo,  and  be  able  to  present  to  the  Department 
a  satisfactory  opinion  of  your  ability  to  progress  beyond  that 
point.  We  shall  anxiously  look  for  information  from  you. 
Your  advance  to  San  Luis  Potosi,  if  practicable,  is  rendered 


PROSECUTION    OF    THE    WAR.  279 

greatly  more  important  by  the  movement  contemplated  to 
Tainpico,  by  which  you  will,  it  is  believed,  be  enabled  to  effect 
a  co-operation  with  the  squadron,  and  with  the  column  under 
Major  General  Patterson,  on  a  line  in  advance  of  the  Rio 
Grande.  The  squadron  is  now  under  orders  to  attack  Tam- 
pico,  with  every  prospect  of  success,  and  the  probability  is  that 
the  place  will  be  captured  in  advance  of  General  Patterson's 
movement." 

On  the  same  day  that  General  Taylor  was  thus  addressed, 
the  Secretary  wrote  to  General  Patterson  that,  unless  General 
Taylor  had  made  arrangements  to  employ  him  otherwise,  it 
was  designed  that  the  expedition  against  the  State  of  Tamau- 
lipas  should  be  under  his  immediate  command.  The  Secretary 
added,  "As  soon  as  you  shall  learn  from  General  Taylor  that 
a  sufficient  force  for  the  enterprize  can  be  spared,  and  receive 
his  directions  in  regard  to  it,  you  will  lose  no  time  in  putting 
them  in  execution.  If  General  Taylor  should  not  give  direc 
tions  as  to  moving  by  land  or  water,  the  choice  will  then  be 
left  for  your  determination." 

On  the  13th  of  October,  the  Secretary  addressed  General 
Taylor  in  reference  to  the  capitulation  of  Monterey,  in  which 
he  expressed  the  "President's  regret  that  it  was  not  deemed 
advisable  to  insist  on  the  terms  first  proposed."  And  after  fur 
ther  remarks  he  proceeds  to  say  : 

"  As  the  offer  recently  made  by  the  United  States  to  open 
negotiations  for  a  peace  was  not  acceded  to  by  the  present 
rulers  of  Mexico,  but  reserved  to  be  submitted  to  and  acted 
on  by  a  congress  to  be  assembled  on  the  6th  of  December 
next,  it  was  deemed  by  the  government  here  highly  important, 
that  the  war  in  the  mean  time  should  be  prosecuted  with  the 
utmost  vigour,  to  the  end  that  they  might  be  made  sensible  of 
the  evils  of  its  continuance,  and  thereby  become  more  inclined 
to  bring  it  to  a  speedy  close.  In  pursuance  of  this  policy  an 
expedition  was  proposed,  in  my  despatch  of  the  22d  ult.,  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  possession  of  the  entire  Department  of 
Tamaulipas,  and,  under  the  belief  that  it  would  not  interfere 
with  your  plans  and  operations,  no  doubt  was  entertained  that 
24* 


V 

280          DESIGNS    OF    THE    GOVERNMENT. 

it  would  receive  your  concurrence  and  support.  In  anticipa 
tion  thereof,  measures  have  been  already  taken  to  carry  it  out 
at  the  earliest  practicable  period. 

"  By  the  arrangement  you  have  made  for  a  temporary  sus 
pension  of  hostilities,  within  certain  limits  of  the  enemy's 
country,  if  continued  to  the  end  of  the  time  stipulated,  a  con 
siderable  part  of  Tamaulipas  will  be  exempted  from  military 
operations,  until  within  a  few  days  of  the  time  fixed  for  the 
meeting  of  the  Mexican  Congress,  and  the  expedition  thereby 
delayed,  or  if  prosecuted  by  the  land  or  naval  forces,  might 
bring  into  question  the  good  faith  of  the  United  States. 

"  In  the  despatch  before  referred  to,  you  will  perceive  that 
an  attack  by  our  naval  force  upon  some  places  on  the  coast  of 
Tamaulipas  is  also  contemplated.  Whatever  may  be  the  ad 
vantage  or  the  necessity  of  the  co-operation  of  a  land  force, 
it  must  be  withheld  until  near  the  close  of  November,  if  the 
armistice  is  continued  to  the  end  of  the  stipulated  period. 

"  The  government  is  fully  persuaded  that,  if  you  had  been, 
aware  of  the  special  reasons  disclosed  in  the  despatch  of  the 
22d  ultimo,  and  the  intentions  of  the  government,  still  enter 
tained,  you  would  not  have  acceded  to  the  suspension  of  hos 
tilities  for  even  the  limited  period  specified  in  the  articles  of 
capitulation ;  but  as  its  continuance  depends  on  the  orders  of 
your  government,  you  are  instructed  to  give  the  requisite  no 
tice  that  the  armistice  is  to  cease  at  once,  and  that  each  party 
is  at  liberty  to  resume  and  prosecute  hostilities  without  restric 
tion. 

"  The  city  of  Monterey  is  regarded  as  an  important  acqui 
sition.  While  held  by  a  competent  force,  the  authorities  of 
Mexico  may  be  considered  as  dispossessed  of  the  Department 
of  New  Leon.  It  is  therefore  proposed  that  you  should  make 
the  necessary  arrangements  for  retaining  possession  of  it  during 
the  war. 

"  Not  only  Monterey,  but  the  State  of  New  Leon  may,  it  is 
presumed,  be  regarded  as  a  conquered  country,  and,  as  a  con 
sequence,  the  civil  authorities  of  Mexico  are  in  a  measure 
superseded,  or,  at  least,  subject  to  your  control.  You  will 


PLAN    AGAINST    VERA     CRUZ.  281 

*i 

give  this  subject  your  consideration,  and  permit  only  such  civil 
functionaries  to  retain  and  exercise  power  as  are  well  disposed 
towards  the  United  States. 

"It  is  an  object  of  much  interest  to  the  government  to  be 
put  in  possession  of  your  views  as  to  your  future  operations. 

"  The  season  for  carrying  on  military  operations  in  the 
enemy's  country  lying  on  the  gulf  has  now  arrived.  It  is 
deemed  important  that  we  should  have  possession  of  the  whole 
of  Tamaulipas  before  the  meeting  of  the  Mexican  Congress  in 
December.  It  is  hoped  that  the  expedition  for  that  purpose, 
suggested  in  my  communication  of  the  22d  of  September,  can 
be  organized  and  sent  forward  without  at  all  interfering  with 
the  contemplated  operation  of  the  forces  under  your  immediate 
command. 

"  Among  the  officers  presented  to  your  consideration  to  be 
employed  in  this  expedition  was  Brigadier  General  Shields. 
Attention  was  directed  to  him,  by  the  knowledge  that  he  had 
become  acquainted  \yith  some  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of 
Tamaulipas,  and  by  that  means  had  acquired  information  which 
would  have  been  useful  in  conducting  the  enterprize.  He  has, 
however,  since  received  orders  to  join  General  Wool,  and 
probably  cannot  be  conveniently  recalled.  If  this  can  be  done, 
and  another  brigadier  sent  to  General  Wool,  it  might  be  ad 
vantageous  to  the  public  service  to  make  the  exchange.  This 
is,  however,  left  entirely  to  yourself.  As  to  the  employment 
of  Major  General  Patterson,  and  Brigadier  General  Pillow,  the 
wishes  of  the  President  and  Department  are  unchanged. 

"It  is  under  consideration  by  the  government,  though  not 
yet  fully  determined,  to  land  a  considerable  force  in  the  vici 
nity  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  invest  that  city.  Should  this  be  un 
dertaken,  a  larger  force  of  regular  troops  will  be  required  than 
that  assigned  to  the  Tamaulipas  expedition.  It  is  desired  to 
know  if,  in  your  opinion,  a  detachment  of  two  thousand  of  this 
description  of  force  can  be  spared  for  that  purpose  from  those 
under  your  command,  without  essentially  interfering  with  your 
plans  and  operations.  It  is  not  desired  or  intended  to  weaken 
the  force  with  you  at  Monterey,  or  to  embarrass  you  by  divert- 


282  LETTER  TO  THE  WAR  DEPARTMENT. 

ing  troops  from  the  Rio  Grande,  which  you  may  deem  neces 
sary  as  reinforcements  to  the  execution  of  your  own  contem 
plated  operations." 

In  answer  to  the  instructions  of  the  Secretary,  under  date 
of  the  22d  of  September,  General  Taylor  wrote  on  the  13th 
of  October  that,  under  the  terms  of  the  capitulation,  he  could 
not  detach  a  force  south  of  a  line  from  Linares  to  San  Fer 
nando.  He  therefore  requested  modified  instructions.  On  the 
15th  of  October,  General  Taylor  wrote  the  following  full,  very 
able,  and  spirited  letter  to  the  War  Department.  It  merits 
attention  on  three  grounds:  1st,  the  views  of  the  author  con 
cerning  his  own  movements ;  2d,  concerning  an  attack  on 
Vera  Cruz ;  and,  3d,  concerning  his  rights  as  commander. 
On  the  second  head,  experience  has  now  justified  his  decided 
opinions.  Had  the  operations  against  Mexico,  through  Vera 
Cruz,  been  effected  by  an  army  of  twenty-five  thousand  men, 
it  is  unnecessary  to  say  that,  although  the  ultimate  result  might 
not  have  been  different,  the  immediate  effect  of  the  presence 
of  such  a  force  would  probably  have  saved  time  and  treasure, 
and  certainly  the  sacrifice  of  thousands  of  lives. 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Camp  near  Monterey,  Oct.  15,  1846. 

"  SIR  : — In  my  acknowledgment,  dated  the  12th  instant,  of 
the  instructions  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  of  September  22d, 
I  briefly  stated  that  the  detachment  to  Tampico  could  not  be 
made  without  contravening  the  convention  of  Monterey. 
Other  reasons  and  more  detailed  views  on  this  point  and  the 
general  question  of  the  campaign,  I  left  to  a  subsequent  com 
munication,  which  I  have  now  the  honour  to  submit  for  the  in 
formation  of  the  General-in-Chief  and  the  Secretary  of  War. 
Such  a  point  has  been  reached  in  the  conduct  of  the  war  and 
the  progress  of  our  arms,  as  to  make  it  proper  to  place  my 
impressions  and  convictions  very  fully  before  the  government. 

"  I  wish  to  remark,  first  of  all,  that  I  have  considered  Bri 
gadier  General  Wool,  though  formally  under  my  orders,  yet 
as  charged  by  the  government  with  a  distinct  operation,  with 


:     >   ^ 
PROPOSED  ADVANCE  ON  SAN  LUIS.  283 

which  I  was  not  at  liberty  to  interfere.  Though  greatly  in 
doubt  as  to  the  practicability  of  his  reaching  Chihuahua  with 
artillery,  and  deeming  the  importance  of  the  operation  at  any 
rate  to  be  not  at  all  commensurate  with  its  difficulty  and  ex 
pense,  I  have  accordingly  refrained  from  controlling  his  move 
ments  in  any  way.  His  force,  therefore,  forms  no  element  in 
my  calculations,  particularly  as  it  now  is,  or  soon  will  be,  en 
tirely  beyond  my  reach. 

"  The  Mexican  army  under  General  Ampudia  has  left  Sal- 
tillo,  and  fallen  back  on  San  Luis  Potosi — the  last  detachment, 
as  I  understand,  being  under  orders  to  march  to-day.  General 
Santa  Anna  reached  San  Luis  on  the  8th  instant,  and  is  en 
gaged  in  concentrating  and  organizing  the  army  at  that  point. 
Whether  the  withdrawal  of  the  forces  to  San  Luis  be  intended 
to  draw  us  into  the  country,  far  from  supplies  and  support,  or 
whether  it  be  a  political  movement,  connected  with  Santa 
Anna's  return  to  power,  it  is  impossible  to  say ;  it  is  sufficient 
for  my  present  argument  to  know  that  a  heavy  force  is  assem 
bling  in  our  front.  Saltillo,  the  capital  of  Coahuila,  is  virtu 
ally  in  our  possession,  and  can  be  occupied,  if  necessary,  the 
moment  the  convention  is  at  an  end.  The  occupation  of  Sal 
tillo  will  lengthen  our  line  seventy-five  miles,  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  may  enable  us  to  draw  at  least  a  portion  of  our  bread- 
stuffs  from  the  country.  San  Luis  is  about  three  hundred 
miles  from  Saltillo,  perhaps  more. 

"  San  Luis  is  a  city  of  some  60,000  inhabitants,  in  a  country 
abundant  in  resources,  and  at  no  great  distance  from  the  heart 
of  the  Republic,  whence  munitions  of  war  and  reinforcements 
can  readily  be  drawn.  It  is  at  the  same  time  nearly  six  hun 
dred  miles  from  the  Rio  Grande,  which  must  continue  to  be 
the  base  of  our  operation,  at  least  until  we  reach  San  Luis. 

"In  view  of  the  above  facts,  I  .hazard  nothing  in  saying, 
that  a  column  to  move  on  San  Luis  from  Saltillo,  should,  to 
ensure  success,  be  at  least  20,000  strong,  of  which  10,000 
should  be  regular  troops.  After  much  reflection,  I  consider 
the  above  as  the  smallest  number  of  effective  troops  that  could 
be  employed  on  this  service  without  incurring  the  hazard  of 


284       TAYLOR'S  FORCE  INADEQUATE. 

disaster  and  perhaps  defeat.  There  would  be  required,  be 
sides,  to  keep  open  our  long  line,  protect  the  depots,  and  se 
cure  the  country  already  gained,  a  force  of  5000  men  —  this, 
without  including  the  force  necessary  to  send  to  Tampico  to 
take  or  hold  that  place. 

"The  above  estimate  may  seem  large,  when  it  is  remem 
bered  that  important  results  have  been  gained  with  a  much 
smaller  force.  But  we  have  hitherto  operated  near  our  own 
base,  and  the  Mexicans  at  a  great  distance  from  theirs.  Sal- 
tillo  may  be  considered  about  equidistant  from  the  Rio  Grande 
and  San  Luis.  Every  day's  march  beyond  it  lengthens  our 
already  long  line  and  curtails  theirs — weakens  us,  and  gives 
them  strength.  Hence  the  movement  should  not  be  undertaken 
except  with  a  force  so  large  as  to  render  success  certain. 

"  In  the  above  calculation  I  have  supposed  the  Mexicans 
able  to  concentrate  at  San  Luis  a  force  of  40,000  to  50,000 
men.  With  tolerable  stability  in  the  government,  I  doubt  not 
their  ability  to  do  this,  and  it  is  not  safe  to  assume  any  less 
number  as  a  basis. 

"  The  force  of  twelve  months'  volunteers  has  suffered  greatly 
from  disease.  Many  have  died,  and  a  great  number  have  been 
discharged  for  disability.  So  much  has  their  effective  strength 
been  reduced  by  this  cause  and  present  sickness  that,  in  the 
absence  of  official  returns,  I  am  satisfied  that  five  hundred  men 
per  regiment  would  be  a  large  average  of  effectives  among  the 
volunteers.  This  would  give,  including  the  cavalry,  a  force  a 
little  short  of  9000  men,  or,  adding  4000  regulars,  (our  pre 
sent  strength  is  not  3000,)  a  total  force  of  13,000.  Leaving 
the  very  moderate  number  of  3000  to  secure  our  rear,  I  should 
not  be  able  to  march  from  Saltillo,  with  present  and  expected 
means,  at  the  head  of  more  than  10,000  men  —  a  number, 
which,  from  considerations  above  stated,  I  deem  to  be  entirely 
inadequate. 

"  And  now  I  come  to  the  point  presented  in  the  Secretary's 
letters.  A  simultaneous  movement  on  San  Luis  and  Tampico 
is  there  suggested  ;  but  it  will  readily  be  seen  that,  with  only 
half  the  force  which  I  consider  necessary  to  march  on  one 


VIEWS    OF    FUTURE    OPERATIONS.         285 

point,  it  is  quite  impossible  to  march  on  both,  and  that  nothing 
short  of  an  effective  force  of  25,000  to  30,000  men  would,  on 
military  principles,  justify  the  double  movement.  And  it  is  to 
be  remarked,  that  the  possession  of  Tampico  is  indispensable 
in  case  \ve  advance  to  San  Luis,  for  the  line  hence  to  the  latter 
place  is  entirely  too  long  to  be  maintained  permanently,  and 
must  be  abandoned  for  the  shorter  one  from  Tampico,  the 
moment  San  Luis  is  taken. 

"I  have  spoken  only  of  the  number  of  troops  deemed  ne 
cessary  for  the  prosecution  of  the  campaign  beyond  Saltillo. 
It  will  be  understood 4hat  largely  increased  means  and  mate 
rial  of  every  kind  will  be  equally  necessary  to  render  the  army 
efficient,  such  as  cavalry  arid  artillery  horses,  means  of  trans 
portation,  ordnance  stores,  &c. 

"  The  Department  may  be  assured  that  the  above  views 
have  not  been  given  without  mature  reflection,  and  have  been 
the  result  of  experience  and  careful  inquiry.  It  will  be  for  the 
government  to  determine  whether  the  war  shall  be  prosecuted 
by  directing  an  active  campaign  against  San  Luis  and  the 
capital,  or  whether  the  country  already  gained  shall  be  held, 
and  a  defensive  attitude  assumed.  In  the  latter  case,  the  gen 
eral  line  of  the  Sierra  Madre  might  very  well  be  taken;  but 
even  then,  with  the  enemy  in  force  in  my  front,  it  might  be 
imprudent  to  detach  to  Tampico  so  large  a  force  as  3000  or 
4000  men,  particularly  of  the  description  required  for  that  ope 
ration.  If  the  co-operation  of  the  army,  therefore,  be  deemed 
essential  to  the  success  of  the  expedition  against  Tampico,  I 
trust  that  it  will  be  postponed  for  the  present. 

"  I  have  not  been  unmindful  of  the  importance  of  taking 
Tampico,  and  have  at  least  once  addressed  the  Department  on 
the  subject.  Nothing  but  the  known  exposure  of  the  place  to 
the  ravages  of  the  yellow  fever  prevented  me  from  organizing 
an  expedition  against  it  last  summer.  I  knew  that,  if  taken, 
it  could  not  with  any  certainty  be  held,  and  that  the  cause 
would  not  be  removed  before  the  last  of  November  or  the  first 
of  December. 

"  It  may  be  expected  that  I  should  give  my  views  as  to  the 


286  PLAN    AGAINST    THE    CAPITAL. 

policy  of  occupying  a  defensive  line,  to  which  I  have  above 
alluded.  I  am  free  to  confess  that,  in  view  of  the  difficulties 
and  expense  attending  a  movement  into  the  heart  of  the  coun 
try,  and  particularly  in  view  of  the  unsettled  and  revolutionary 
character  of  the  Mexican  Government,  the  occupation  of  such 
a  line  seems  to  me  the  best  course  that  can  be  adopted.  The 
line  taken  might  either  be  that  on  which  we  propose  to  insist 
as  the  boundary  between  the  Republics — say  the  Rio  Grande — 
or  the  line  to  which  we  have  advanced,  viz.,  the  Sierra  Madre, 
including  Chihuahua  and  Santa  Fe.  The  former  line  could  be 
held  with  a  much  smaller  force  than  the  latter ;  but  even  the 
line  of  the  Sierra  Madre  could  be  held  with  a  force  greatly  less 
than  would  be  required  for  an  active  campaign.  Monterey 
controls  the  great  outlet  from  the  interior ;  a  strong  garrison 
at  this  point,  with  an  advance  at  Saltillo,  and  small  corps  at 
Monclova,  Linares,  Victoria,  and  Tampico,  would  effectually 
cover  the  line. 

"  I  have  limited  my  remarks  to  the  position  of  the  army  on 
this  frontier,  and  the  requirements  of  a  campaign  against  San 
Luis  Potosi ;  the  suggestions  in  the  Secretary's  letter  being 
confined  to  this  general  theatre  of  operations.  Should  the 
Government  determine  to  strike  a  decisive  blow  at  Mexico,  it 
is  my  opinion  that  the  force  should  land  near  Vera  Cruz  or  Al- 
varado,  and,  after  establishing  a  secure  depot,  march  thence  on 
the  capital.  The  amount  of  troops  required  for  this  service 
would  not  fall  short,  in  my  judgment,  of  25,000  men,  of 
which  at  least  10,000  should  be  regular  troops. 

"  In  conclusion,  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  make  some  remarks, 
which  I  would  gladly  have  been  spared  the  necessity  of  sub 
mitting.  I  feel  it  due  to  my  position,  and  to  the  service,  to 
record  my  protest  against  the  manner  in  which  the  Department 
has  sought  to  make  an  important  detachment  from  my  com 
mand,  specifically  indicating  not  only  the  general  officers,  but, 
to  a  considerable  extent,  the  troops  that  were  to  compose  it. 
While  I  remain  in  command  of  the  army  against  Mexico,  and 
am  therefore  justly  held  responsible  by  the  Government  and 
the  country  for  the  conduct  of  its  operations,  I  must  claim  the 


SUBJECT    OF    FORCED    SUPPLIES.          287 

right  of  organizing  all  detachments  from  it,  and  regulating  the 
time  and  manner  of  their  service.  Above  all  do  I  consider  it 
important  that  the  Department  of  War  should  refrain  from  cor 
responding  directly  with  my  subordinates,  and  communicating 
orders  and  instructions  on  points  which,  by  all  military  precept 
and  practice,  pertain  exclusively  to  the  general-in-chief  com 
mand.  Confusion  and  disaster  alone  can  result  from  such  a 
course.  The  reason  alleged,  viz.,  the  loss  of  time  in  commu 
nicating  with  General  Patterson,  has  no  application ;  for  the 
Secretary's  despatch  came  from  that  officer  to  my  head-quarters 
in  sixty  hours,  and  he  could  not  move,  at  any  rate,  without 
drawing  largely  upon  this  column  for  artillery  and  regular 
troops. 

"I  beg  it  may  be  understood  that  my  remarks  have  no  per 
sonal  application.  It  is  quite  probable  that,  in  the  event  of 
making  such  a  detachment,  I  would  have  placed  it  under  Ma 
jor  General  Patterson ;  but  I  conceive  that  this  mode  of  regu 
lating  details,  and  ordering  detachments  direct  from  the  De 
partment  of  War,  is  a  violation  of  the  integrity  of  the  chief 
command  in  the  field,  pregnant  with  the  worst  evils,  and 
against  which  I  deem  it  my  duty  respectfully  but  earnestly  to 
protest. 

« I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Major  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C." 

On  the  subject  of  forced  supplies  from  the  enemy's  country, 
General  Taylor,  on  the  26th  of  October,  replied  to  the  Secre 
tary's  suggestions  in  his  letter  of  the  22d  of  September,  that  it 
would  have  been  impossible  before,  and  was  then,  to  sustain 
the  army  to  any  extent  by  forced  contributions  of  money  or 
supplies.  The  country  between  the  Rio  Grande  and  Sierra 
Madre  being  poor,  furnishing  only  corn  and  beef,  these  arti 
cles  were  obtained  at  moderate  rates ;  but  if  a  different  system 
had  been  adopted,  it  was  certain,  in  General  Taylor's  opinion, 
that  they  would  not  have  been  procured  at  all  in  sufficient  quan- 
25 


288  GENERAL     WOOL'S    DIVISION. 

titles.  The  prompt  payment  in  cash  for  the  few  articles  of  sup 
ply  drawn  from  the  country  neutralized  much  of  the  unfriendly 
feeling  with  which  the  army  was  regarded,  and  contributed 
greatly  to  facilitate  operations.  The  people  had  it  in  their 
power,  at  any  time,  to  destroy  their  crops,  and  would  undoubt 
edly  have  done  so,  rather  than  see  them  taken  forcibly.  Added 
to  which  they  would  have  had  no  inducements  to  plant  again. 
The  prices  paid  were  reasonable,  being,  in  almost  all  cases,  the 
prices  of  the  country. 

General  Taylor  added,  to  these  views,  "  should  the  army,  in 
its  future  operations,  reach  a  portion  of  the  country  which  may 
be  made  to  supply  the  troops  with  advantage,  I  shall  not  fail 
to  conform  to  the  wishes  and  instructions  of  the  department  m 
this  particular." 

In  compliance  with  instructions  of  the  government,  General 
Taylor  formally  notified  the  Mexican  general-in-chief  that  the 
armistice  would  cease  on  the  13th  of  November. 

The  movements  of  General  Wool's  Division,  in  Northern 
Mexico,  have  not  yet  been  noticed  in  the  recital  of  General  Tay 
lor's  operations,  as  they  had,  until  the  winter  of  1846,  no  im 
mediate  connection  with  them.  In  November,  however,  Ge 
neral  Wool  had  approached  near  enough  to  General  Taylor's 
position  to  make  his  further  advance  important  to  the  latter. 
The  force  under  General  Wool  consisted  of  Kentucky,  Illinois, 
and  Arkansas  volunteers,  chiefly  cavalry,  and  a  battalion  of 
regular  artillery,  with  six  field-pieces,  the  whole  number  of 
men  being  about  twenty-four  hundred.  This  column  had  pur 
sued  a  very  long  and  fatiguing  march,  sustaining  with  great 
fortitude  its  share  in  the  invasion  of  Mexico.  It  reached  Mon- 
clova,  distant  in  a  direct  line  about  one  hundred  miles  north 
of  Saltillo,  and  about  seventy  miles  north-west  of  Monterey, 
on  the  31st  of  October. 


WORTH'S   MARCH  TO  SALTILLO.        289 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

March  of  Worth's  Division  for  Saltillo — Taylor's  Instructions — His  reasons  for 
holding  Saltillo — Opinion  regarding  the  Expedition  against  Vera  Cruz — The 
Forces  necessary — Taylor  visits  Saltillo — Protest  of  the  Governor — Relative 
position  of  the  Divisions — Tampico  occupied — Taylor  sets  out  for  Victoria 
with  Twiggs'  and  Quitman's  Brigades — Returns  with  the  former — Concen 
tration  at  Saltillo — Arrival  of  Wool's  Division  expected — Taylor  marches 
again  for  Victoria  with  Twiggs'  Division — Occupation  of  Victoria — Forces 
there — Government  Plans  against  Vera  Cruz — Letter  from  General  Scott  to 
General  Taylor — Forces  withdrawn  from  General  Taylor — Address  to  his 
Troops — Loss  of  May's  Rear-guard — Capture  of  Majors  Borland,  Gaines, 
and  C.  M.  Clay — Affairs  of  Mexico — Activity  of  Santa  Anna — His  advance 
to  San  Luis — General  Wool's  Camp — Taylor's  advance  to  Saltillo — Camp 
at  Agua  Nueva — At  Buena  Vista — Enumeration  of  Santa  Anna's  Forces — 
of  Taylor's  Forces. 

ON  the  12th  of  November,  a  division,  commanded  by  Ge 
neral  Worth,  composed  of  two  regiments  of  infantry,  one 
company  of  volunteers,  a  field-battery  of  eight  pieces,  and 
eight  companies  of  artillery,  marched  from  Monterey  for  Sal 
tillo.  General  Taylor  had  instructed  General  Wool  to  remain 
at  Monclova,  to  await  his  own  arrival  at  Saltillo,  there  to  de 
termine  what  disposition  he  would  make  of  the  column  at  the 
former  place.  It  was  the  purpose  of  General  Taylor,  at  the 
same  time,  to  accompany  an  expedition  against  Tampico,  for 
which  he  had  taken  preliminary  steps.  The  information  he 
had  received  of  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  water  on  the  road 
from  Saltillo  to  San  Luis,  left  him  in  doubt  of  the  expediency  of 
attempting  any  further  advance  into  Mexico  in  that  direction. 
On  the  day  of  General  Worth's  march  from  Monterey,  (the 
12th)  General  Taylor,  intending  to  follow  him  on  the  next,  to 
determine  his  further  plans,  addressed  the  War  Department, 
showing  the  propriety  of  occupying  Saltillo,  even  though  no 
movement  should  be  made  beyond  it.  He  said  : 

"  Without  active  operations  towards  San  Luis  Potosi  from 
this  quarter,  I  still  deem  the  occupation  of  Saltillo  important 
for  three  reasons :  first,  as  a  necessary  outpost  of  the  main 
force  at  Monterey,  covering,  as  it  does,  the  important  defile 
which  leads  from  the  low  country  to  the  table  land,  and  also 


290         REVIEW  OF  TAYLOR'S   PLANS. 

the  route  to  Monclova  ;  secondly,  as  controlling  a  region  from 
which  we  may  expect  considerable  supplies  of  breadstufFs  and 
cattle,  viz.,  the  fertile  country  around  Parras;  and,  thirdly,  as 
the  capital  of  Coahuila,  which  renders  it  very  important  in  a 
political  point  of  view. 

"I  have  already  represented  to  the  Department  the  difficul 
ties  to  be  encountered  in  a  forward  movement  upon  San  Luis, 
and  the  amount  of  force  which  would  be  necessary  to  ensure 
success.  Those  reasons  only  apply  to  the  country  beyond  Sal- 
tillo.  I  consider  the  occupation  of  that  point  as  a  necessary 
complement  to  our  operations,  and  to  the  policy  of  holding  a 
defensive  line,  as  the  Sierra  Madre,  and  trust  the  Department 
will  concur  with  me  in  this  view." 

In  the  same  communication  he  stated,  with  regard  to  the 
then  proposed  expedition  against  Vera  Cruz,  as  he  had  before, 
that  twenty-five  thousand  troops,  ten  thousand  being  regular, 
would  be  properly  required  to  take  possession  of  Vera  Cruz, 
and  march  thence  against  the  city  of  Mexico.  But  for  the 
mere  occupation  of  the  former,  he  expressed  to  the  Secretary 
the  opinion  that  ten  thousand  troops  would  suffice.  Regard 
ing  the  means  by  which  such  a  force  could  he  raised,  he  stated 
the  whole  ten  thousand  could  not  be  spared  from  the  occupa 
tion  of  the  line  of  the  Sierra  Madre ;  four  thousand  might  be 
diverted  from  that  object ;  and  that  if  to  these  six  thousand  fresh 
troops  from  the  United  States  were  added  at  the  proper  time, 
the  expedition  might  be  undertaken  with  a  promise  of  success. 
He  proposed,  therefore,  to  proceed  with  the  preparation  for  a 
movement  on  Tampico,  and,  after  accomplishing  every  thing 
to  be  done  in  that  quarter,  to  hold,  if  the  Department  approved, 
four  thousand  men,  of  which  there  might  be  three  thousand 
regulars,  ready  to  embark  at  some  point  on  the  coast,  and  effect 
a  junction  with  the  additional  force  from  the  States.  The 
movement  towards  Tampico,  he  considered,  would  not  pro 
duce  any  delay  if  his  views  were  adopted ;  and  he  considered 
:t  quite  important  to  occupy  Victoria,  and  the  lower  portion  of 
Tamaulipas,  after  securing  properly  the  line  to  be  held  in  that 
quarter. 


TAYLOR'S  ADVANCE  TO  SALTILLO.  291 

On  the  13th  of  November,  General  Taylor  followed  General 
Worth's  Division  to  Saltillo,  escorted  by  two  squadrons  of 
dragoons.  This  town  is  the  capital  of  the  State  of  Coahuila, 
and  is  distant  sixty-five  miles  south-west  from  Monterey.  As 
soon  as  he  had  crossed  the  line  of  the  State,  General  Taylor 
was  met  by  a  messenger  from  the  Governor,  with  the  following 
protest  against  his  advance  : 

Saltillo,  Nov.  16,  1846. 
God  and  Liberty  ! 

The  movement  you  are  making  with  the  forces  under  your 
command,  leaves  no  doubt  that  your  object  is  to  invade  this 
city,  as  have  been  the  greater  part  of  the  towns  of  Coahuila 
by  the  troops  which  have  advanced  to  Monclova.  The  want 
of  arms  in  this  State  leaves  me  no  means  to  oppose  force  to 
force,  and  will  enable  you  to  occupy  this  capital  without  oppo 
sition,  and  compel  me  to  retire  from  it ;  but  in  doing  so,  I 
ought,  and  I  desire  to  place  upon  record,  in  the  most  authentic 
manner,  this  protest,  which  I  solemnly  make,  in  the  name  of 
the  State  of  Coahuila,  against  the  government  of  the  United 
States  of  the  North,  for  the  usurpation  of  the  territory  occupied 
by  their  arms — for  the  outrages  and  damages  which  may  accrue 
to  the  persons  and  property  of  the  inhabitants  of  these  defence 
less  towns — for  the  injuries  the  public  interests  may  suffer — 
and  for  all  the  evils  consequent  upon  the  most  unjustifiable  in 
vasion  ever  known  to  the  world. 

JOSE  MARIE  DE  AGUIRRE. 

Major  General  TAYIOH,  General-in-chief  of 
the  Army  of  the  United  States. 

General  Taylor,  whatever  he  may  have  thought  of  this  really 
pathetic  document,  proceeded  to  Saltillo,  which  General  Worth 
had  reached  on  the  16th,  and  occupied  without  opposition. 

A  reconnoissance  was  made  of  the  country  about  twenty-five 
miles  in  front,  and,  at  the  same  time,  one  projected  of  the  Par- 
ras  route  as  far  as  Patos — a  rich  hacienda  about  thirty-five  miles 
from  Saltillo. 

The  division  at  Saltillo  covered  the  direct  route  from  San 
25* 


292  HIS    RETURN    TO    MONTEREY. 

Luis  Potosi.  The  other  route  would  be  covered  by  a  force  at 
Parras,  which  would,  at  the  same  time,  control  abundant  sup 
plies  to  be  drawn  from  the  neighbouring  country — the  richest 
of  the  north  of  Mexico.  Brig.  Gen.  Wool  being  in  position 
at  Monclova,  and  it  being  fully  ascertained  that  he  could  not 
inarch  thence  on  Chihuahua,  even  were  it  desired,  General 
Taylor  ordered  him  to  move  on  Parras.  It  was  his  intention 
thus  completely  to  occupy  and  cover  the  State  of  Coahuila, 
and  in  case  of  active  operations  towards  the  interior,  to  be  in 
position  to  march  on  San  Luis,  Zacatecas,  or  Durango.  Having 
made  these  dispositions,  and  left  with  General  Worth  a  squad 
ron  of  dragoons,  General  Taylor  returned  about  the  20th  to 
Monterey. 

On  the  25th  he  learned  officially  of  the  occupation  of  Tam- 
pico,  on  the  14th  of  the  same  month,  by  the  naval  forces  under 
Commodore  Perry.  He  had  before  learned  that  the  garrison 
had  been  withdrawn  on  the  27th  of  October.  On  the  requi 
sition  of  Commodore  Perry,  General  Patterson  promptly  gave 
orders  for  Lieut.  Col.  Belton's  battalion  (six  companies)  to 
proceed  to  and  garrison  Tampico ;  and  also  took  measures  to 
ship  thither  a  sufficient  supply  of  heavy  ordnance  and  provi 
sions.  These  orders  were  fully  approved  by  General  Taylor, 
and  he  directed  a  regiment  of  volunteers  to  be  added  to  the 
garrison. 

General  Taylor  still  made  his  dispositions  to  throw  forward 
a  force  as  far  as  Victoria,  with  the  view  of  examining  the 
country,  and  particularly  the  passes  which  lead  from  Linares, 
and  other  points,  towards  the  interior.  All  his  plans  for  the 
occupation  of  Victoria,  and  the  retention  of  the  line  already 
acquired,  were  matured  with  profound  consideration  of  both 
means  and  ends.  As  set  forth  in  his  despatches  they  exhibit 
foresight,  prudence,  and  comprehensive  judgment  of  details 
bearing  on  one  great  purpose.  Circumstances  occurred,  how 
ever,  to  change  the  character,  and  reduce  the  number  of  his 
troops,  and  thus  to  affect  his  main  scheme.  The  despatches, 
therefore,  touching  his  preparations  and  objects  in  the  occupa 
tion  of  Victoria,  would,  in  this  place,  only  postpone  other  mat- 


ALARMS  AND  COUNTER  MOVEMENTS.  293 

ter,  which  has  paramount  interest.  It  is  sufficient  to  say  that 
they  are  among  the  ablest  papers  addressed  by  him  to  the  go 
vernment. 

Monterey  was  made  the  head-quarters  of  General  Butler,  and 
on  the  15th  of  December  General  Taylor  set  out  for  Victoria, 
having  previously  put  in  motion  the  troops  destined  for  that 
point.  At  Monternorelos,  a  junction  was  effected  on  the  17th 
with  the  2d  infantry,  and  2d  regiment  of  Tennessee  foot  from 
Camargo,  and  it  was  his  intention,  with  the  whole  force,  about 
three  thousand  men,  to  march  on  the  19th  for  Victoria.  But 
the  evening  of  his  arrival  at  Montemorelos  a  despatch  arrived 
from  General  Worth,  commanding  at  Saltillo,  with  the  intelli 
gence  that  Santa  Anna  designed  to  take  advantage  of  the  di 
version  of  force  towards  Victoria,  and  by  a  rapid  movement 
to  strike  a  heavy  blow  at  Saltillo,  and  if  successful,  then  at 
General  Wool's  force  at  Parras.  Under  these  circumstances, 
and  with  no  means  of  judging  how  far  this  information  might 
be  well-founded,  General  Taylor  deemed  it  proper  to  return  to 
Monterey,  with  the  regular  force,  and  thus  be  in  a  position  to 
reinforce  Saltillo,  if  necessary.  The  volunteers  under  Brig. 
Gen.  Quitman,  reinforced  by  a  field-battery,  were  ordered  to 
continue  their  march,  and  effect  a  junction  with  Gen.  Patterson 
at  Victoria,  while  General  Taylor  returned  to  Monterey  with 
General  Twiggs'  Division,  then  increased  by  the  2d  infantry. 

In  the  mean  time,  General  Butler  and  Brig.  Gen.  Wool, 
having  been  advised  by  General  Worth  of  a  probable  attack 
upon  his  position,  moved  rapidly  to  join  him,  with  all  available 
force,  at  Parras  and  Monterey,  while  orders  were  despatched 
by  General  Butler  to  hasten  up  troops  from  the  rear.  The  lat 
ter  general  proceeded  in  person  to  Saltillo,  and  assumed  the 
command,  agreeably  to  General  Taylor's  instructions,  given 
before  his  departure,  to  meet  such  a  contingency. 

General  Taylor  had  proceeded  beyond  Monterey,  on  his 
way  to  Saltillo,  when  he  was  met,  on  the  20th,  by  a  despatch 
from  Saltillo,  announcing  the  early  arrival  of  General  Wool's 
column,  and  also  that  the  expected  concentration  and  move 
ment  of  the  Mexican  troops  upon  that  position  had  not  taken 


294  OCCUPATION    OF    VICTORIA. 

place.  Deeming  the  force  present  and  expected  at  Saltillo 
sufficient  to  repel  any  demonstration  from  San  Luis  Potosi, 
General  Taylor  thought  it  unnecessary  to  throw  forward  Gen. 
Twiggs'  Division  to  that  place,  and,  on  the  16th  of  December, 
again  marched  with  it  towards  Victoria. 

On  the  29th,  General  Quitman  occupied  Victoria  without 
resistance.  The  enemy  had  a  body  of  some  fifteen  hundred 
cavalry  in  the  town,  but  which  fell  back  as  General  Quitman 
approached.  General  Taylor  arrived  there,  with  the  division 
of  General  Twiggs,  on  the  4th  of  January,  and  was  joined  on 
the  same  day  by  the  force  which  General  Patterson  conducted 
from  Matamoros.  The  force  collected  there  was  upward  of 
five  thousand  strong. 

While  General  Taylor  was  thus  maturing  his  operations, 
according  to  his  plans  already  referred  to,  the  government  had 
determined  to  concentrate  the  largest  possible  number  of  regu 
lars  and  experienced  volunteers  in  the  attack  uponVera  Cruz. 
General  Scott  was  charged  with  the  command  of  the  expedi 
tion,  and  immediately  took  measures  to  secure  its  success. 
How  those  measures  necessarily  affected  General  Taylor's  force 
is  partly  shown  in  the  following  extracts  from  a  letter  addressed 
to  him  by  General  Scott  from  New  York,  on  the  25th  of  No 
vember.  It  is  proper  to  remark,  that  the  letter  was  marked 
"  private  and  confidential,"  but  was  afterwards  published  with 
other  correspondence  of  the  War  Department.  General  Scott 
said : 

"By  the  12th  of  December  I  may  be  in  New  Orleans,  at 
Point  Isabel  the  17th,  and  Camargo  say  the  23d,  in  order  to 
be  within  easy  corresponding  distance  from  you.  It  is  not 
probable  that  I  may  be  able  to  visit  Monterey,  and  circum 
stances  may  prevent  your  coming  to  me.  I  shall  much  regret 
not  having  an  early  opportunity  of  felicitating  you  in  person 
upon  your  many  brilliant  achievements ;  but  we  may  meet 
somewhere  in  the  interior  of  Mexico. 

"  I  am  not  coming,  my  dear  general,  to  supersede  you  in  the 
immediate  command  on  the  line  of  operations  rendered  illus 
trious  by  you  and  your  gallant  army.  My  proposed  theatre  is 


TROOPS    WITHDRAWN.         295 

different.  You  may  imagine  it,  and  I  wish  very  much  that  it 
were  prudent,  at  this  distance,  to  tell  you  all  that  I  expect  to 
attempt  or  hope  to  execute.  I  have  been  admonished  that  de 
spatches  have  been  lost,  and  I  have  no  special  messenger  at 
hand.  Your  imagination  will  be  aided  by  the  letters  of  the 
Secretary  of  War,  conveyed  by  Mr.  Armistead,  Major  Graham, 
and  Mr.  McLane. 

"  But,  rny  dear  general,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  take  from  you 
most  of  the  gallant  officers  and  men  (regulars  and  volunteers) 
whom  you  have  so  long  and  so  nobly  commanded.  I  am 
afraid  that  I  shall,  by  imperious  necessity — the  approach  of 
yellow  fever  on  the  Gulf  coast — reduce  you,  for  a  time,  to  stand 
on  the  defensive.  This  will  be  infinitely  painful  to  you,  and 
for  that  reason  distressing  to  me.  But  I  rely  upon  your  pa 
triotism  to  submit  to  the  temporary  sacrifice  with  cheerfulness. 
No  man  can  better  afford  to  do  so.  Recent  victories  place 
you  on  that  high  eminence,  and  I  even  flatter  myself  that  any 
benefit  that  may  result  to  me,  personally,  from  the  unequal  di 
vision  of  troops  alluded  to,  will  lessen  the  pain  of  your  conse 
quent  inactivity. 

"  You  will  be  aware  of  the  recent  call  for  nine  regiments  of 
new  volunteers — including  one  of  Texas  horse.  The  Presi 
dent  may  soon  ask  for  many  more,  and  we  are  not  without 
hope  that  Congress  may  add  ten  or  twelve  to  the  regular  estab 
lishment.  These,  by  the  spring,  say  April,  may,  by  the  aid  of 
large  bounties,  be  in  the  field — should  Mexico  not  earlier  pro 
pose  terms  of  accommodation ;  and  long  before  the  spring 
(March)  it  is  probable  you  will  be  again  in  force  to  resume 
offensive  operations. 

"  Your  detailed  report  of  the  operations  at  Monterey,  and 
reply  to  the  Secretary's  despatch,  by  Lieutenant  Armistead, 
were  both  received  two  days  after  I  was  instructed  to  proceed 
south." 

In  consequence  of  the  plan  thus  declared,  the  regular  troops, 
with  the  exception  of  a  very  small  body  of  the  troops  which 
comjJbsed  his  army  in  the  month  of  November,  the  division 
of  General  Worth  at  Saltillo,  of  General  Patterson  at  Victoria, 

''ft 


296  ADDRESS    TO    HIS    TROOPS. 

the  brigades  of  Generals  Quitman  and  Twiggs  at  the  same 
place,  and  all  other  corps  which  could  possibly  be  drawn  from 
the  field  of  operations,  of  which  the  Rio  Grande  was  the  base, 
were  ordered  to  Vera  Cruz.  To  maintain  his  position  at  Sal- 
tillo,  General  Taylor  had  about  five  thousand  men,  only  five 
hundred  being  regulars.  On  parting  with  the  troops  who  had 
so  faithfully  served  with  him,  he  issued  an  order  which  in  these 
terms  expressed  his  feelings  : 

"  It  is  with  deep  sensibility  that  the  commanding  general 
finds  himself  separated  from  the  troops  he  so  long  commanded. 
To  those  corps,  regular  and  volunteer,  who  have  shared  with 
him  the  active  services  of  the  field,  he  feels  the  attachment 
due  to  such  associations,  while  to  those  who  are  making  their 
first  campaign,  he  must  express  his  regret  that  he  cannot  par 
ticipate  with  them  in  its  eventful  scenes.  To  all,  both  officers 
and  men,  he  extends  his  heartfelt  wishes  for  their  continued 
success  and  happiness,  confident  that  their  achievements  on 
another  theatre  will  redound  to  the  credit  of  their  country  and 
its  arms." 

Captain  May,  on  the  route  from  Monterey  to  Victoria,  having 
been  ordered  to  examine  the  country  on  the  south,  and  ascer 
tain  whether  there  was  a  pass  in  the  mountains  in  that  direc 
tion,  lost  eleven  men  of  his  rear-guard,  who  were  cut  ofF  by 
a  party  of  the  enemy.  The  command  of  Captain  May  con 
sisted  of  only  two  companies  of  dragoons ;  and  the  misfortune 
occurred  on  a  mountain  road,  in  a  defile  so  narrow  that  only 
one  horse  could  pass  it  at  a  time.  The  enemy  was  at  no  time 
seen  by  the  main  body,  which  was  in  advance.  This  affair 
occurred  near  Victoria,  in  the  latter  part  of  December.  An 
other  trifling  success  was  enjoyed  by  the  enemy  on  a  subse 
quent  day.  Major  Borland,  with  a  detachment  of  fifty  Ark 
ansas  cavalry,  and  Major  Gaines  and  Cassius  M.  Clay,  with 
thirty  men,  were  surprised  by  an  overwhelming  body  of  Mexi 
can  cavalry  at  the  hacienda  of  Encarnacion,  about  forty-five 
miles  south  of  Saltillo,  and  taken  prisoners.  Early  in  January 
General  Taylor  left  Victoria  with  a  small  escort,  and  returned 
to  Monterey,  where  he  established  his  head-quarters. 


*T 
SANTA  ANNA'S  ADVANCE.  297 

While  the  United  States  were  making  preparations  to  attack 
Vera  Cruz,  and  maintain  the  positions  gained  by  the  northern 
divisions  of  the  army,  under  Taylor,  Wool,  and  Kearney, 
Mexico  was  also  preparing  for  a  decisive  blow.  In  December, 
the  Mexican  Congress,  convened  under  the  restored  Constitu 
tion  of  1824,  assembled  in  the  capital.  After  considerable 
discussion,  Santa  Anna  was  elected  Provisional  President,  and 
Gomez  Farias,  Vice  President  of  the  Republic.  The  com 
mand  of  the  army  was  undertaken  by  Santa  Anna  personally. 
From  the  moment  of  his  arrival  in  Mexico,  on  his  return  from 
Havana,  his  labours  had  been  incessant  to  restore  domestic 
order,  to  unite  parties,  to  devise  measures  of  finance,  and  to 
raise  and  equip  troops.  An  attempt  to  obtain  pecuniary  aid 
from  the  church  was  bitterly  opposed  by  the  Primate  of  Mexico, 
and,  of  course,  by  the  subordinate  clergy,  who,  failing  at  first 
in  simple  remonstrances,  succeeded  finally  by  the  exercise  of 
their  spiritual  power.  Notwithstanding  this  and  every  other 
embarrassment,  Santa  Anna  had  concentrated  at  San  Luis 
Potosi,  before  the  end  of  January,  1847,  an  army  of  more 
than  twenty-one  thousand  men,  prepared  to  march  thence 
against  the  divisions  of  General  Taylor's  force  between  Sal- 
tillo  and  the  Rio  Grande.  On  the  first  of  February,  Santa 
Anna  with  his  army  was  moving  rapidly  upon  that  town,  up 
wards  of  three  hundred  miles  distant  from  San  Luis.  The 
march  was  arduous,  not  only  on  account  of  this  distance,  but 
from  the  want  of  water  and  provisions,  and  the  severity  of  the 
winter  weather.  Unworthy  of  respect  as  the  Mexican  com 
mander  has  in  many  instances  proved,  it  is  proper  to  accord 
him  in  this  the  honour  of  extraordinary  energy  and  ability. 
On  the  20th  of  February  he  reached  Encarnacion,  and  the 
next  day  his  advance  on  Saltillo  was  resumed. 

General  Wool  had  continued  in  command  of  the  division 
of  the  American  army  at  Saltillo.  Near  the  end  of  January 
he  advised  General  Taylor  of  the  rumoured  advance  of  Santa 
Anna,  then  organizing  his  forces  at  San  Luis,  as  has  been  men 
tioned.  In  consequence  of  this  information,  although  at  that 
time  indefinite,  General  Taylor  determined  at  once  to  meet  the 


298       MEXICAN    AND    AMERICAN    FORCES. 

enemy,  if  opportunity  should  be  offered ;  and,  leaving  a  gar 
rison  of  fifteen  hundred  men  at  Monterey,  he  took  up  his  line 
of  march  on  the  31st,  with  a  reinforcement  for  the  column  of 
General  Wool.  On  the  2d  of  February  he  reached  Saltillo, 
and  on  the  4th  proceeded  to  Agua  Nueva,  twenty  miles  south 
of  that  city,  on  the  San  Luis  road,  where  he  encamped  until 
the  21st  On  this  day,  having  learned  from  McCulloch's  spies 
that  the  Mexicans  were  advancing  in  force,  he  fell  back  twelve 
miles  nearer  to  Saltillo,  to  a  better  position  in  a  defile  of  the 
mountains  called  Angostura,  and  facing  the  hacienda  of  Buena 
Vista.  At  this  place  he  awaited  the  approach  of  Santa  Anna, 
then  within  one  day's  march  of  it. 

The  army  of  Santa  Anna,  when  organized  by  him  at  San 
Luis,  was  composed,  according  to  Mexican  authorities,  of  the 
following  corps : — 

Sappers,  miners,  and  artillerists,  with  nineteen  guns  of  heavy  calibre. ..  650 

First,  third,  fourth,  fifth,  tenth,  and  eleventh  regiments  of  the  line,  and  ">  Re>An 

first  and  third  of  light  troops.                                                                5  M* 

Fourth  light  troops,  first  active  Celaya ;  ditto  of  Guadalajara ;  ditto  ">  „ 

of  Lagos  ;  ditto  of  Queretaro  ;  ditto  of  Mexico.                                3  '^ 

Parrodi's  division,  with  three  pieces  of  heavy  artillery ]  ,000 

Cavalry,  (on  the  march) _ 6,000 

Artillery,  (on  the  march) 250 

Mejia's  division 4,000 

Total 21,340 

The  brigades  of  Generals  Minon  and  Juvera  are  not  included 
in  this  enumeration,  but  it  was  diminished  about  one  thousand 
by  casualties,  sickness,  and  desertion  on  the  march. 

To  oppose  the  advance  of  this  army — of  the  force  of  which 
Taylor  was  not  informed — he  had  at  Buena  Vista  the  following 
corps : — 

First  Dragoons 114 

Second  Dragoons 72 

Arkansas  Cavalry 392 

Kentucky  Cavalry 265 

Total  Cavalry , 843 

Third  Artillery 142 

Fourth  Artillery 106 

Total  Artillery 248 


THE    GROUND    OF    BUENA    VISTA.          299 

Artillery  and  Cavalry 1091 

Second  Kentucky  Infantry 516 

Mississippi  Riflemen 328 

Indiana  Brigade 1036 

First  Illinois  Foot 519 

Second  Illinois  Foot 496 

Total  Foot 2895 

Texas  Volunteers 53 

McCulloch's  Spies 24 

Total  Regiments  or  Corps 4063 

General  Staff 10 

Total  effective  force 4073 

Thus,  the  American  army  under  Taylor  was  one-fifth  the 
numerical  force  of  the  Mexican  army  under  Santa  Anna,  when 
the  latter  approached  the  field  of  Buena  Vista. 


, 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


Taylor's  Position  at  Buena  Vista — Washington's  Birth-day — Summons  of  Santa 
Anna  to  Taylor  to  Surrender — The  Reply — Taylor's  Detailed  Report  of  the 
Battle — His  order  of  Battle  on  the  22d — Skirmishes — Minon's  Cavalry  in 
the  Rear— Battle  on  the  23d — Attack  of  the  Enemy  on  the  Left  and  Centre 
— Partial  success  of  the  Attack — Service  of  the  Artillery — Repulse  of  the 
Enemy — Ruse  of  Santa  Anna — Death  of  Yell  and  Vaughan — Renewed  At 
tacks  of  the  Enemy — Bragg's  Battery— The  Day  saved— Death  of  Hardin, 
McKee,  Lincoln,  and  Clay — Incidents  after  the  Battle — Comparative  Losses 
—General  Wool  and  other  Officers  and  Corps  distinguished — Official  Return 
of  Loss — Private  Letter  to  General  Butler — Taylor's  Views  of  the  Battle — 
Congratulatory  Orders — Letters  to  Henry  Clay  and  Governor  Lincoln — Re 
joicings  in  the  United  States — Mr.  Crittenden — Repulse  of  Urrea  and  Romaro 
by  Major  Giddings — Taylor's  pursuit  of  them — Return  to  his  Head-quarters 
— Public  Estimation  of  Taylor — The  Presidency — His  Personal  Views  as  a 
Candidate — Concluding  Remarks  on  his  Character. 

THE  position  selected  by  General  Taylor  to  receive  with  his 
small  army  of  volunteers  the  vastly  superior  force  of  the  Mexi 
can  chief,  was  one  of  remarkable  natural  strength.  It  was  at 
a  point  where  the  main  road  from  San  Luis  to  Saltillo  passes 
between  closely  approximating  chains  of  mountains.  The 
26 


300  TAYLOR    SUMMONED    TO    SURRENDER. 

liases  of  these  mountains  are  cut,  by  the  occasional  torrents  of 
rain,  into  numerous  deep  gullies,  almost  impassable,  owing  to 
the  ruggedness  and  steepness  of  the  banks,  leaving  between 
them  elevated  table-lands,  or  plateaus,  of  various  extent.  On 
the  west  of  the  road,  and  nearly  parallel  to  it,  between  Agua 
Nueva  and  Buena  Vista,  is  also  a  ditch,  forming  one  of  the 
mountain  drains  on  that  side.  The  American  army  was  drawn 
up  at  nearly  right  angles  to  the  road,  its  chief  force  being  on 
the  east  of  it,  occupying  a  large  plateau  commanding  the 
mountain  side.  Facing  the  south,  this  force  constituted  the 
left  wing.  A  battery  of  light  artillery  occupied  the  road,  and 
the  right  wing  rested  on  the  opposite  hill. 

In  this  attitude  General  Taylor  awaited  the  advance  of  Santa 
Anna,  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  February,  a  day  dear  to 
American  memories,  as  that  which  gave  Washington  to  his 
country.  It  is  reasonable  to  believe  that  it  was  not  forgotten 
on  the  field  of  Buena  Vista ;  and  that  the  four  thousand  men 
there  arrayed  to  oppose  five  times  their  number,  and  to  hear 
for  the  first  time  the  din  of  hostile  arms,  recalled  the  name  of 
him  whose  glory  is  a  heritage  worthy  of  a  nation's  dearest 
blood.  The  enemy  was  soon  descried  moving  in  large  masses, 
the  host  of  cavalry  conspicuous  from  the  forest  of  their  lances 
glittering  under  a  cloudless  sun.  An  hour  before  noon  the 
head  of  their  columns  had  approached  within  two  miles  of  the 
American  position.  At  this  movement  a  white  flag  was  seen 
advancing  from  the  Mexican  front,  and  its  bearer  was  soon  in 
the  presence  of  General  Taylor.  He  presented  the  General 
the  following  letter  : 

Camp  at  Encantada,  February  22,  1847. 
God  and  Liberty  ! 

You  are  surrounded  by  20,000  men,  and  cannot,  in  any 
human  probability,  avoid  suffering  a  rout,  and  being  cut  to 
pieces  with  your  troops  ;  but  as  you  deserve  consideration  and 
particular  esteem,  1  wish  to  save  you  from  a  catastrophe,  and 
for  that  purpose  give  you  this  notice,  in  order  that  you  may 
surrender  at  discretion,  under  the  assurance  that  you  will  be 
treated  with  the  consideration  belonging  to  the  Mexican  char- 


BATTLE-GROUND  AND  VICINITY 

OF 


FEBRUARY    22d    AND    23d,     1847. 


REFERENCES. 

A.  Right  of  the  American  Army. 

B.  Battery  of  light  artillery  posted  on  the  road. 

C.  Left  of  the  American  Army  on  the  "  plateau." 

D.  D.  Mexican  Army  before  the  battle  on  the  22d. 

(To  face  page  300.) 


.jf* 


THE    REPLY    TO    THE    SUMMONS.  301 

acter,  to  which  end  you  will  be  granted  an  hour's  time  to 
make  up  your  mind,  to  commence  from  the  moment  when  my 
flag  of  truce  arrives  in  your  camp. 

With  this  view,  I  assure  you  of  my  particular  consideration. 
ANTONIO  LOPEZ  DE  SANTA  ANNA. 

To  General  Z.  TATIOR, 

Commanding  the  Forces  of  the  U.  S. 

To  this  summons  General  Taylor  immediately  replied  in 
these  terms — an  admirable  example  of  decision  without  pre 
sumption. 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Near  Buena  Vista,  February  22,  1847. 

SIR  :  In  reply  to  your  note  of  this  date,  summoning  me  to 
surrender  my  forces  at  discretion,  I  beg  leave  to  say  that  I  de 
cline  acceding  to  your  request. 

With  high  respect,  I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Major  General  U.  S.  Army,  commanding. 

Senor  Gen.  D.  ANTONIA  LOPEZ  DE  SANTA  ANNA, 
Commander-in-chief,  La  Encantada. 

With  this  introduction  to  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  General 
Taylor's  detailed  report  of  it  is  given,  as  sufficiently  compre 
hensive,  and  the  most  proper  for  these  pages. 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Agua  Nueva,  March  6,  1847. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honour  to  submit  a  detailed  report  of  the 
operations  of  the  forces  under  my  command,  which  resulted  in 
the  engagement  of  Buena  Vista,  the  repulse  of  the  Mexican 
army,  and  the  reoccupation  of  this  position. 

The  information  which  reached  me  of  the  advance  and  con 
centration  of  a  heavy  Mexican  force  in  my  front,  had  assumed 
such  a  probable  form,  as  to  induce  a  special  examination  far 
beyond  the  reach  of  our  pickets  to  ascertain  its  correctness.  A 
small  party  of  Texan  spies,  under  Major  McCulloch,  de 
spatched  to  the  hacienda  of  Encarnacion,  thirty  miles  from  this, 
on  the  route  to  San  Luis  Potosi,  had  reported  a  cavalry  force 
of  unknown  strength  at  that  place.  On  the  20th  of  February,  a 
26* 


302  AMERICAN    LINE    OF    BATTLE. 

strong  reconnoissance  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  May  was  de 
spatched  to  the  hacienda  of  Heclionda,  while  Major  McCulloch 
made  another  examination  of  Encarnacion.  The  result  of  these 
expeditions  left  no  doubt  that  the  enemy  was  in  large  force  at 
Encarnacion,  under  the  orders  of  General  Santa  Anna,  and 
that  he  meditated  a  forward  movement  and  attack  upon  our 
position. 

As  the  camp  of  AguaNueva  could  be  turned  on  either  flank, 
and  as  the  enemy's  force  was  greatly  superior  to  our  own,  par 
ticularly  in  the  arm  of  cavalry,  I  determined,  after  much  con 
sideration,  to  take  up  a  position  about  eleven  miles  in  rear,  and 
there  await  the  attack.  The  army  broke  up  its  camp  and 
marched  at  noon  on  the  21st,  encamping  at  the  new  position  a 
little  in  front  of  the  hacienda  of  Buena  Vista.  With  a  small 
force  I  proceeded  to  Saltillo,  to  make  some  necessary  arrange 
ments  for  the  defence  of  the  town,  leaving  Brigadier  General 
Wool  in  the  immediate  command  of  the  troops. 

Before  those  arrangements  were  completed,  on  the  morning 
of  the  22d,  I  was  advised  that  the  enemy  was  in  sight,  ad 
vancing.  Upon  reaching  the"  ground  it  was  found  that  his 
cavalry  advance  was  in  our  front,  having  marched  from  En 
carnacion,  as  we  have  since  learned,  at  11  o'clock  on  the  day 
previous,  and  driving  in  a  mounted  force  left  at  Agua  Nueva 
to  cover  the  removal  of  public  stores.  Our  troops  were  in  posi 
tion,  occupying  a  line  of  remarkable  strength.  The  road  at 
this  point  becomes  a  narrow  defile,  the  valley  on  its  right  being 
rendered  quite  impracticable  for  artillery  by  a  system  of  deep 
and  impassable  gullies,  while  on  the  left  a  succession  of  rugged 
ridges  and  precipitous  ravines  extends  far  back  toward  the 
mountain  which  bounds  the  valley.  The  features  of  the  ground 
were  such  as  nearly  to  paralyze  the  artillery  and  cavalry  of  the 
enemy,  while  his  infantry  could  not  derive  all  the  advantage 
of  its  numerical  superiority.  In  this  position  we  prepared  to 
receive  him.  Captain  Washington's  battery  (4th  artillery)  was 
posted  to  command  the  road,  while  the  1st  and  2d  Illinois 
regiments,  under  Colonels  Hardin  and  Bissell,  each  eight  com 
panies  (to  the  latter  of  which  was  attached  Captain  Conner's 


£!      r'*  % 

SKIRMISH    ON    THE    22d.  303 


company  of  Texas  volunteers),  and  the  2d  Kentucky,  under 
Colonel  McKee,  occupied  the  crests  of  the  ridges  on  the  left 
and  in  rear.  The  Arkansas  and  Kentucky  regiments  of  cavalry, 
commanded  by  Colonels  Yell  and  H.  Marshall,  occupied  the 
extreme  left  near  the  base  of  the  mountain,  while  the  Indiana 
brigade,  under  Brigadier  General  Lane  (composed  of  the  2d 
and  3d  regiments,  under  Colonels  Bowles  and  Lane),  the  Mis 
sissippi  riflemen,  under  Colonel  Davis,  the  squadrons  of  the  1st 
and  2d  dragoons,  under  Captain  Steen  and  Lieutenant  Colonel 
May,  and  the  light  batteries  of  Captains  Sherman  and  Bragg, 
3d  artillery,  were  held  in  reserve. 

At  eleven  o'clock  I  received  from  General  Santa  Anna  a 
summons  to  surrender  at  discretion,  which,  with  a  copy  of  my 
reply,  I  have  already  transmitted.  The  enemy  still  forbore  his 
attack,  evidently  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  his  rear  columns, 
which  could  be  distinctly  seen  by  our  look-outs  as  they  ap 
proached  the  field.  A  demonstration  made  on  his  left  caused 
me  to  detach  the  2d  Kentucky  regiment  and  a  section  of  artil 
lery  to  our  right,  in  which  position  they  bivouacked  for  the 
night.  In  the  mean  time  the  Mexican  light  troops  had  engaged 
ours  on  the  extreme  left  (composed  of  parts  of  the  Kentucky 
and  Arkansas  cavalry  dismounted,  and  a  rifle  battalion  from 
the  Indiana  brigade,  under  Major  Gorman,  the  whole  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Marshall),  and  kept  up  a  sharp  fire,  climb 
ing  the  mountain  side,  and  apparently  endeavouring  to  gain 
our  flank.  Three  pieces  of  Captain  Washington's  battery  had 
been  detached  to  the  left,  and  were  supported  by  the  2d  Indi 
ana  regiment.  An  occasional  shell  was  thrown  by  the  enemy 
into  this  part  of  our  line,  but  without  effect.  The  skirmishing 
of  the  light  troops  was  kept  up  with  trifling  loss  on  our  part 
until  dark,  when  I  became  convinced  that  no  serious  attack 
would  be  made  before  the  morning,  and  returned,  with  the 
Mississippi  regiment  and  squadron  of  2d  dragoons,  to  Saltillo. 
The  troops  bivouacked  without  fires,  and  laid  upon  their  arms. 
A  body  of  cavalry,  some  1500  strong,  had  been  visible  all  day 
in  rear  of  the  town,  having  entered  the  valley  through  a  nar 
row  pass  east  of  the  city.  This  cavalry,  commanded  by  General 


304  BATTLE    BEGUN    ON    23d. 

Minon,  had  evidently  been  thrown  in  our  rear  to  break  up  and 
harass  our  retreat,  and  perhaps  make  some  attempt  against  the 
town  if  practicable.  The  city  was  occupied  by  four  excellent 
companies  of  Illinois  volunteers,  under  Major  Warren  of  the 
1st  regiment.  A  field-work,  which  commanded  most  of  the  ap 
proaches,  was  garrisoned  by  Captain  Webster's  company,  1st 
artillery,  and  armed  with  two  twenty-four-pound  howitzers,  while 
the  train  and  head-quarter  camp  was  guarded  by  two  compa 
nies  of  Mississippi  riflemen,  under  Captain  Rogers,  and  a  field- 
piece  commanded  by  Captain  Shover,  3d  artillery.  Having 
made  these  dispositions  for  the  protection  of  the  rear,  I  pro 
ceeded  on  the  morning  of  the  23d  to  Buena  Vista,  ordering 
forward  all  the  other  available  troops.  The  action  had  com 
menced  before  my  arrival  on  the  field. 

During  the  evening  and  night  of  the  22d,  the  enemy  had 
thrown  a  body  of  light  troops  on  the  mountain  side,  with  the 
purpose  of  outflanking  our  left ;  and  it  was  here  that  the  action 
of  the  23d  commenced  at  an  early  hour.  Our  riflemen,  under 
Colonel  Marshall,  who  had  been  reinforced  by  three  companies 
under  Major  Trail,  2d  Illinois  volunteers,  maintained  their 
ground  handsomely  against  a  greatly  superior  force,  holding 
themselves  under  cover,  and  using  their  weapons  with  deadly 
effect.  About  eight  o'clock  a  strong  demonstration  was  made 
against  the  centre  of  our  position,  a  heavy  column  moving 
along  the  road.  This  force  was  soon  dispersed  by  a  few  rapid 
and  well-directed  shots  from  Captain  Washington's  battery. 
In  the  mean  time  the  enemy  was  concentrating  a  large  force  of 
infantry  and  cavalry  under  cover  of  the  ridges,  with  the  obvious 
intention  of  forcing  our  left,  which  was  posted  on  an  extensive 
plateau.  The  2d  Indiana  and  2d  Illinois  regiments  formed 
this  part  of  our  line,  the  former  covering  three  pieces  of  light 
artillery,  under  the  orders  of  Captain  O'Brien — Brigadier  Gene 
ral  Lane  being  in  the  immediate  command.  In  order  to  bring 
his  men  within  effective  range,  General  Lane  ordered  the  artil 
lery  and  2d  Indiana  regiment  forward.  The  artillery  advanced 
within  musket  range  of  a  heavy  body  of  Mexican  infantry,  and 
was  served  against  it  with  great  effect,  but  without  being  able 


I 

SUCCESS    OF    THE    ENEMY.  305 

to  check  its  advance.  The  infantry  ordered  to  its  support  had 
fallen  back  in  disorder,  being  exposed,  as  well  as  the  battery, 
not  only  to  a  severe  fire  of  small  arms  from  the  front,  but  also 
to  a  murderous  cross-fire  of  grape  and  canister  from  a  Mexican 
battery  on  the  left.  Captain  O'Brien  found  it  impossible  to 
retain  his  position  without  support,  but  was  only  able  to  with-,* 
draw  two  of  his  pieces,  all  the  horses  and  cannoneers  of  the 
third  piece  being  killed  or  disabled.  The  2d  Indiana  regi 
ment,  which  had  fallen  back  as  stated,  could  not  be  rallied, 
and  took  no  farther  part  in  the  action,  except  a  handful  of  men, 
who,  under  its  gallant  colonel,  Bowles,  joined  the  Mississippi 
regiment,  and  did  good  service,  and  those  fugitives  who,  at  a 
later  period  in  the  day,  assisted  in  defending  the  train  and  depot 
at  Buena  Vista.  This  portion  of  our  line  having  given  way, 
and  the  enemy  appearing  in  overwhelming  force  against  our 
left  flank,  the  light  troops  which  had  rendered  such  good  ser 
vice  on  the  mountain  were  compelled  to  withdraw,  which  they 
did,  for  the  most  part,  in  good  order.  Many,  however,  were 
not  rallied  until  they  reached  the  depot  at  Buena  Vista,  to  the 
defence  of  which  they  afterward  contributed. 

Colonel  Bissell's  regiment  (2d  Illinois),  which  had  been 
joined  by  a  section  of  Captain  Sherman's  battery,  had  become 
completely  outflanked,  and  was  compelled  to  fall  back,  being 
entirely  unsupported.  The  enemy  was  now  pouring  masses 
of  infantry  and  cavalry  along  the  base  of  the  mountain  on  our 
left,  and  was  gaining  our  rear  in  great  force.  At  this  moment  I 
arrived  upon  the  field.  The  Mississippi  regiment  had  been 
directed  to  the  left  before  reaching  the  position,  and  immedi 
ately  came  into  action  against  the  Mexican  infantry  which  had 
turned  our  flank.  The  2d  Kentucky  regiment,  and  a  section 
of  artillery  under  Captain  Bragg,  had  previously  been  ordered 
from  the  right  to  reinforce  our  left,  and  arrived  at  a  most  op 
portune  moment.  That  regiment,  and  a  portion  of  the  1st 
Illinois,  under  Colonel  Hardin,  gallantly  drove  the  enemy,  and 
recovered  a  portion  of  the  ground  we  had  lost.  The  batteries 
of  Captains  Sherman  and  Bragg  were  in  position  on  the  pla 
teau,  and  did  much  execution,  not  only  in  front,  but  particu- 


306  REPULSE    OF    THE    ENEMY. 

larly  upon  the  masses  which  had  gained  our  rear.  Discovering 
that  the  enemy  was  heavily  pressing  upon  the  Mississippi  regi 
ment,  the  3d  Indiana  regiment,  under  Colonel  Lane,  was  de 
spatched  to  strengthen  that  part  of  our  line,  which  formed  a 
crotchet  perpendicular  to  the  first  line  of  battle.  At  the  same 
time  Lieutenant  Kilburn,  with  a  piece  of  Captain  Bragg's  bat 
tery,  was  directed  to  support  the  infantry  there  engaged.  The 
action  was,  for  a  long  time,  warmly  sustained  at  that  point — 
the  enemy  making  several  efforts,  both  with  infantry  and 
cavalry,  against  our  line,  and  being  always  repulsed  with  heavy 
loss.  I  had  placed  all  the  regular  cavalry,  and  Captain  Pike's 
squadron  of  Arkansas  horse,  under  the  orders  of  Brevet  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  May,  with  directions  to  hold  in  check  the  ene 
my's  column,  still  advancing  to  the  rear  along  the  base  of  the 
mountain,  which  was  done  in  conjunction  with  the  Kentucky 
and  Arkansas  cavalry  under  Colonels  Marshall  and  Yell. 

In  the  mean  time  our  left,  which  was  still  strongly  threatened  by 
a  superior  force,  was  farther  strengthened  by  the  detachment  of 
Captain  Bragg's,  and  a  portion  of  Captain  Sherman's  batteries 
to  that  quarter.  The  concentration  of  artillery  fire  upon  the 
masses  of  the  enemy  along  the  base  of  the  mountain,  and  the 
determined  resistance  offered  by  the  two  regiments  opposed  to 
them,  had  created  confusion  in  their  ranks,  and  some  of  the 
corps  attempted  to  effect  a  retreat  upon  their  main  line  of  bat 
tle.  The  squadron  of  the  1st  dragoons,  under  Lieutenant 
Rucker,  was  now  ordered  up  the  deep  ravine  which  these  re 
treating  corps  were  endeavouring  to  cross,  in  order  to  charge 
and  disperse  them.  The  squadron  proceeded  to  the  point  in 
dicated,  but  could  not  accomplish  the  object,  being  exposed 
to  a  heavy  fire  from  a  battery  established  to  cover  the  retreat 
of  those  corps.  While  the  squadron  was  detached  on  this  ser 
vice,  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  was  observed  to  concentrate 
on  our  extreme  left,  apparently  with  the  view  of  making  a  de 
scent  upon  the  hacienda  of  Buena  Vista,  where  our  train  and 
baggage  were  deposited.  Lieutenant  Colonel  May  was  ordered 
to  the  support  of  that  point,  with  two  pieces  of  Captain  Sher 
man's  battery  under  Lieutenant  Reynolds.  In  the  mean  time, 


RUSE  OF  SANTA  ANNA.         307 

the  scattered  forces  near  the  hacienda,  composed  in  part  of  ^ 
Majors  Trail  and  Gorman's  commands,  had  been,  to  some  ex 
tent,  organized  under  the  advice  of  Major  Munroe,  chief  of 
artillery,  with  the  assistance  of  Major  Morrison,  volunteer 
staff,  and  were  posted  to  defend  the  position.  Before  our 
cavalry  had  reached  the  hacienda,  that  of  the  enemy  had  made 
its  attack;  having  been  handsomely  met  by  the  Kentucky  and 
Arkansas  cavalry  under  Colonels  Marshall  and  Yell.  The 
Mexican  column  immediately  divided,  one  portion  sweeping 
by  the  depot,  where  it  received  a  destructive  fire  from  the  force 
which  had  collected  there,  and  then  gaining  the  mountain  op 
posite,  under  a  fire  from  Lieutenant  Reynold's  section,  the  re 
maining  portion  regaining  the  base  of  the  mountain  on  our 
left.  In  the  charge  at  Buena  Vista,  Colonel  Yell  fell  gallantly 
at  the  head  of  his  regiment ;  we  also  lost  Adjutant  Yaughan, 
of  the  Kentucky  cavalry — a  young  officer  of  much  promise. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  May,  who  had  been  rejoined  by  the  squad 
ron  of  the  1st  dragoons,  and  by  portions  of  the  Arkansas  and 
Indiana  troops,  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Roane  and  Major 
Gorman,  now  approached  the  base  of  the  mountain,  holding 
in  check  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  upon  whose  masses, 
crowded  in  the  narrow  gorges  and  ravines,  our  artillery  was 
doing  fearful  execution. 

The  position  of  that  portion  of  the  Mexican  army  which  had 
gained  our  rear  was  now  very  critical,  and  it  seemed  doubtful 
whether  it  could  regain  the  main  body.  At  this  moment  I  re 
ceived  from  General  Santa  Anna  a  message  by  a  staff  officer, 
desiring  to  know  what  I  wanted  ?  I  immediately  despatched 
Brigadier  General  Wool  to  the  Mexican  general-in-chief,  and 
sent  orders  to  cease  firing.  Upon  reaching  the  Mexican  lines 
General  Wool  could  not  cause  the  enemy  to  cease  their  fire, 
and  accordingly  returned  without  having  an  interview7.  The 
extreme  right  of  the  enemy  continued  its  retreat  along  the 
base  of  the  mountain,  and  finally,  in  spite  of  all  our  efforts, 
effected  a  junction  with  the  remainder  of  the  army. 

During  the  day,  the  cavalry  of  General  Minon  had  ascended 
the  elevated  plain  above  Saltillo,  and  occupied  the  road  from 


308  THE    DAY    SAVED. 

the  city  to  the  field  of  battle,  where  they  intercepted  several 
of  our  men.  Approaching  the  town,  they  were  fired  upon  by 
Captain  Webster  from  the  redoubt  occupied  by  his  company, 
and  then  moved  off  towards  the  eastern  side  of  the  valley, 
and  obliquely  towards  Buena  Vista.  At  this  time,  Captain 
Shover  moved  rapidly  forward  with  his  piece,  supported  by  a 
miscellaneous  command  of  mounted  volunteers,  and  fired  se 
veral  shots  at  the  cavalry  with  great  effect.  They  were  driven 
into  the  ravines  which  lead  to  the  lower  valley,  closely  pursued 
by  Captain  Shover,  who  was  farther  supported  by  a  piece  of 
Captain  Webster's  battery,  under  Lieutenant  Donaldson,  which 
had  advanced  from  the  redout,  supported  by  Captain  Wheel 
er's  company  of  Illinois  volunteers.  The  enemy  made  one  or 
two  efforts  to  charge  the  artillery,  but  was  finally  driven  back 
in  a  confused  mass,  and  did  not  again  appear  upon  the  plain. 
In  the  mean  time,  the  firing  had  partially  ceased  upon  the 
principal  field.  The  enemy  seemed  to  confine  his  efforts  to 
the  protection  of  his  artillery,  and  I  had  left  the  plateau  for  a 
moment,  when  I  was  recalled  thither  by  a  very  heavy  musketry 
fire.  On  regaining  that  position,  I  discovered  that  our  infantry 
(Illinois  and  2d  Kentucky)  had  engaged  a  greatly  superior  force 
of  the  enemy — evidently  his  reserve — and  that  they  had  been 
overwhelmed  by  numbers.  The  moment  was  most  critical. 
Captain  O'Brien,  with  two  pieces,  had  sustained  this  heavy 
charge  to  the  last,  and  was  finally  obliged  to  leave  his  guns  on 
the  field — his  infantry  support  being  entirely  routed.  Captain 
Bragg,  who  had  just  arrived  from  the  left,  was  ordered  at  once 
into  battery.  Without  any  infantry  to  support  him,  and  at  the 
imminent  risk  of  losing  his  guns,  this  officer  came  rapidly  into 
action,  the  Mexican  line  being  but  a  few  yards  from  the  muzzle 
of  his  pieces.  The  first  discharge  of  canister  caused  the  enemy 
to  hesitate,  the  second  and  third  drove  him  back  in  disorder, 
and  saved  the  day.  The  2d  Kentucky  regiment,  which  had 
advanced  beyond  supporting  distance  in  this  affair,  was  driven 
back  and  closely  pressed  by  the  enemy's  cavalry.  Taking  a 
ravine  which  led  in  the  direction  of  Captain  Washington's  bat 
tery,  their  pursuers  became  exposed  to  his  fire,  which  soon 


RETREAT  OF  SANTA  ANNA.       309 

checked  and  drove  them  back  with  loss.  In  the  mean  time, 
the  rest  of  our  artillery  had  taken  position  on  the  plateau, 
covered  by  the  Mississippi  and  3d  Indiana  regiments,  the  for 
mer  of  which  had  reached  the  ground  in  time  to  pour  a  fire  into 
the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  and  thus  contribute  to  his  repulse. 
In  this  last  conflict  we  had  the  misfortune  to  sustain  a  very 
heavy  loss.  Colonel  Hardin,  1st  Illinois,  and  Colonel  McKee 
and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Clay,  2d  Kentucky  regiment,  fell  at 
this  time  while  gallantly  leading  their  commands. 

No  farther  attempt  was  made  by  the  enemy  to  force  our  po 
sition,  and  the  approach  of  night  gave  an  opportunity  to  pay 
proper  attention  to  the  wounded,  and  also  to  refresh  the  sol 
diers,  who  had  been  exhausted  by  incessant  watchfulness  and 
combat.  Though  the  night  was  severely  cold,  the  troops  were 
compelled  for  the  most  to  bivouack  without  fires,  expecting  that 
morning  would  renew  the  conflict.  During  the  night  the 
wounded  were  removed  to  Saltillo,  and  every  preparation  made 
to  receive  the  enemy,  should  he  again  attack  our  position. 
Seven  fresh  companies  were  drawn  from  the  town,  and  Briga 
dier  General  Marshall,  with  a  reinforcement  of  Kentucky  cavalry 
and  four  heavy  guns,  under  Captain  Prentiss,  1st  artillery,  was 
near  at  hand,  when  it  was  discovered  that  the  enemy  had  aban 
doned  his  position  during  the  night.  Our  scouts  soon  ascer 
tained  that  he  had  fallen  back  upon  Agua  Nueva.  The  great 
disparity  of  numbers,  and  the  exhaustion  of  our  troops,  ren 
dered  it  inexpedient  and  hazardous  to  attempt  pursuit.  A 
staff  officer  was  despatched  to  General  Santa  Anna  to  negotiate 
an  exchange  of  prisoners,  which  was  satisfactorily  completed 
on  the  following  day.  Our  own  dead  were  collected  and  buried, 
and  the  Mexican  wounded,  of  which  a  large  number  had  been 
left  upon  the  field,  were  removed  to  Saltillo,  and  rendered  as 
comfortable  as  circumstances  would  permit. 

On  the  evening  of  the  26th,  a  close  reconnoissance  was  made 
of  the  enemy's  position,  which  was  found  to  be  occupied  only 
by  a  small  body  of  cavalry,  the  infantry  and  artillery  having 
retreated  in  the  direction  of  San  Luis  Potosi,  On  the  27th, 
our  troops  resumed  their  former  camp  at  Agua  Nueva,  the 
27 


310  GREAT    LOSS    OF    OFFICERS. 

enemy's  rear-guard  evacuating  the  place  as  we  approached, 
leaving  a  considerable  number  of  wounded.  It  was  my  pur 
pose  to  beat  up  his  quarters  at  Encarnacion  early  the  next 
morning,  but  upon  examination,  the  weak  condition  of  the 
cavalry  horses  rendered  it  unadvisable  to  attempt  so  long  a 
march  without  water.  A  command  was  finally  despatched  to 
Encarnacion,  on  the  1st  of  March,  under  Colonel  Belknap. 
Some  two  hundred  wounded,  and  about  sixty  Mexican  soldiers 
were  found  there,  the  army  having  passed  on  in  the  direction 
of  Matehuala,  with  greatly  reduced  numbers,  and  suffering 
much  from  hunger.  The  dead  and  dying  were  strewed  upon 
the  road  and  crowded  the  buildings  of  the  hacienda. 

The  American  force  engaged  in  the  action  of  Buena  Vista  is 
shown,  by  the  accompanying  field  report,  to  have  been  344 
officers,  and  4425  men,  exclusive  of  the  small  command  left 
in  and  near  Saltillo.  Of  this  number,  two  squadrons  of  cavalry 
and  three  batteries  of  light  artillery,  making  not  more  than  453 
men,  composed  the  only  force  of  regular  troops.  The  strength 
of  the  Mexican  army  is  stated  by  General  Santa  Anna,  in  his 
summons,  to  be  20,000 ;  and  that  estimate  is  confirmed  by  all 
the  information  since  obtained.  Our  loss  is  267  killed,  456 
wounded,  and  23  missing.  Of  the  numerous  wounded,  many 
did  not  require  removal  to  the  hospital,  and  it  is  hoped  that  a 
comparatively  small  number  will  be  permanently  disabled. 
The  Mexican  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  may  be  fairly  esti 
mated  at  1500,  and  will  probably  reach  2000.  At  least  500 
of  their  killed  were  left  upon  the  field  of  battle.  We  have  no 
means  of  ascertaining  the  number  of  deserters  and  dispersed 
men  from  their  ranks,  but  it  is  known  to  be  very  great. 

Our  loss  has  been  especially  severe  in  officers,  twenty-eight 
having  been  killed  upon  the  field.  We  have  to  lament  the 
death  of  Captain  George  Lincoln,  Assistant  Adjutant  General, 
serving  in  the  staff  of  General  Wool — a  young  officer  of  high 
bearing  and  approved  gallantry,  who  fell  early  in  the  action. 
No  loss  falls  more  heavily  upon  the  army  in  the  field  than  that 
of  Colonels  Hardin  and  McKee,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Clay. 
Possessing,  in  a  remarkable  degree,  the  confidence  of  their 


WOOL    AND    HIS    DIVISION.  211 

commands,  and  the  last  two  having  enjoyed  the  advantage  of 
a  military  education,  I  had  looked  particularly  to  them  for  sup 
port  in  case  we  met  the  enemy.  I  need  not  say  that  their  zeal 
in  engaging  .the  enemy,  and  the  cool  and  steadfast  courage 
with  which  they  maintained  their  positions  during  the  day,  fully 
realized  my  hopes,  and  caused  me  to  feel  yet  more  sensibly 
their  untimely  loss. 

I  perform  a  grateful  duty  in  bringing  to  the  notice  of  the 
government  the  general  good  conduct  of  the  troops.  Exposed 
for  successive  nights,  without  fires,  to  the  severity  of  the 
weather,  they  were  ever  prompt  and  cheerful  in  the  discharge 
of  every  duty ;  and  finally  displayed  conspicuous  steadiness 
and  gallantry  in  repulsing,  at  great  odds,  a  disciplined  foe. 
While  the  brilliant  success  achieved  by  their  arms  releases  me 
from  the  painful  necessity  of  specifying  many  cases  of  bad 
conduct  before  the  enemy,  I  feel  an  increased  obligation  to 
mention  particular  corps  and  officers,  whose  skill,  coolness,  and 
gallantry  in  trying  situations,  and  under  a  continued  and  heavy 
fire,  seem  to  merit  particular  notice. 

To  Brigadier  General  Wool  my  obligations  are  especially 
due.  The  high  state  of  discipline  and  instruction  of  several 
of  the  volunteer  regiments  was  attained  under  his  command, 
and  to  his  vigilance  and  arduous  service  before  the  action,  and 
his  gallantry  and  activity  on  the  field,  a  large  share  of  our  suc 
cess  may  justly  be  attributed.  During  most  of  the  engagement 
he  was  in  immediate  command  of  the  troops  thrown  back  on 
our  left  flank.  I  beg  leave  to  recommend  him  to  the  favoura 
ble  notice  of  the  government.  Brigadier  General  Lane  (slightly 
wounded)  was  active  and  zealous  throughout  the  day,  and  dis 
played  great  coolness  and  gallantry  before  the  enemy. 

The  services  of  the  light  artillery,  always  conspicuous,  were 
more  than  usually  distinguished.  Moving  rapidly  over  the 
roughest  ground,  it  was  always  in  action  at  the  right  place  and 
the  right  time,  and  its  well-directed  fire  dealt  destruction  in 
the  masses  of  the  enemy.  While  I  recommend  to  particular 
favour  the  gallant  conduct  and  valuable  services  of  Major 
Munroe,  chief  of  artillery,  and  Captains  Washington,  4th  artil- 


312CORPS    AND    OFFICERS    DISTINGUISHED. 

lery,  and  Sherman  and  Bragg,  3d  artillery,  commanding  bat 
teries,  I  deem  it  no  more  than  just  to  mention  all  the  subaltern 
officers.  They  were  nearly  all  detached  at  different  times,  and 
in  every  situation  exhibited  conspicuous  skill  and  gallantry. 
Captain  O'Brien,  Lieutenants  Brent,  Whiting,  and  Couch, 
4th  artillery,  and  Bryan,  topographical  engineers  (slightly 
wounded),  were  attached  to  Captain  Washington's  battery. 
Lieutenants  Thomas,  Reynolds,  and  French,  3d  artillery  (se 
verely  wounded),  to  that  of  Captain  Sherman ;  and  Captain 
Shover  and  Lieutenant  Kilburn,  3d  artillery,  to  that  of  Captain 
Bragg.  Captain  Shover,  in  connection  with  Lieutenant  Don 
aldson,  1st  artillery,  rendered  gallant  and  important  service  in 
repulsing  the  cavalry  of  General  Minon.  The  regular  cavalry, 
under  Lieutenant  Colonel  May,  with  which  was  associated 
Captain  Pike's  squadron  of  Arkansas  horse,  rendered  useful 
service  in  holding  the  enemy  in  check,  and  in  covering  the 
batteries  at  several  points.  Captain  Steen,  1st  dragoons,  was 
severely  wounded  early  in  the  day,  while  gallantly  endeavour 
ing,  with  my  authority,  to  rally  the  troops  which  were  falling 
to  the  rear. 

The  Mississippi  riflemen,  under  Colonel  Davis,  were  highly 
conspicuous  for  their  gallantry  and  steadiness,  and  sustained 
throughout  the  engagement  the  reputation  of  veteran  troops. 
Brought  into  action  against  an  immensely  superior  force,  they 
maintained  themselves  for  a  long  time  unsupported  and  with 
heavy  loss,  and  held  an  important  part  of  the  field  until  rein 
forced.  Colonel  Davis,  though  severely  wounded,  remained 
in  the  saddle  until  the  close  of  the  action.  His  distinguished 
coolness  and  gallantry  at  the  head  of  his  regiment  on  this  day 
entitle  him  to  the  particular  notice  of  the  government.  The 
3d  Indiana  regiment,  under  Colonel  Lane,  and  a  fragment  of 
the  2d,  under  Colonel  Bowles,  were  associated  with  the  Mis 
sissippi  regiment  during  the  greater  portion  of  the  day,  and 
acquitted  themselves  creditably  in  repulsing  the  attempts  of  the 
enemy  to  break  that  portion  of  our  line.  The  Kentucky  cavalry, 
under  Colonel  Marshall,  rendered  good  service  dismounted, 
acting  as  light  troops  on  our  left,  and  afterward,  with  a  portion 


CORPS    AND    OFFICERS  DISTINGUISHED.  313 

of  the  Arkansas  regiment,  in  meeting  and  dispersing  the  column 
of  cavalry  at  Buena  Vista.  The  1st  and  2d  Illinois,  and  the 
2d  Kentucky  regiments,  served  immediately  under  my  eye,  and 
I  bear  a  willing  testimony  to  their  excellent  conduct  throughout 
the  day.  The  spirit  and  gallantry  wijji  which  the  1st  Illinois 
and  2d  Kentucky  engaged  the  enemy  in  the  morning,  restored 
confidence  to  that  part  of  the  field,  while  the  list  of  casualties 
will  show  how  much  these  three  regiments  suffered  in  sustain 
ing  the  heavy  charge  of  the  enemy  in  the  afternoon.  Captain 
Conner's  company  of  Texas  volunteers,  attached  to  the  2d 
Illinois  regiment,  fought  bravely,  its  captain  being  wounded 
and  two  subalterns  killed.  Colonel  Bissell,  the  only  surviving 
colonel  of  these  regiments,  merits  notice  for  his  coolness  and 
bravery  on  this  occasion.  After  the  fall  of  the  field-officers  of 
the  1st  Illinois  and  2d  Kentucky  regiments,  the  command  of 
the  former  devolved  upon  Lieutenant  Colonel  Weatherford ; 
that  of  the  latter  upon  Major  Fry. 

Regimental  commanders  and  others  who  have  rendered  re 
ports,  speak  in  general  terms  of  the  good  conduct  of  their 
officers  and  men,  and  have  specified  many  names,  but  the  limits 
of  this  report  forbid  a  recapitulation  of  them  here.  I  may, 
however,  mention  Lieutenants  Rucker  and  Campbell  of  the 
dragoons,  and  Captain  Pike,  Arkansas  cavalry,  commanding 
squadrons ;  Lieutenant  Colonel  Field,  Kentucky  cavalry ;  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  Roane,  Arkansas  cavalry,  upon  whom  the  com 
mand  devolved  after  the  fall  of  Colonel  Yell ;  Major  Bradford, 
Captain  Sharpe  (severely  wounded),  and  Adjutant  Griffith, 
Mississippi  regiment ;  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hadden,  2d  Indiana 
regiment,  and  Lieutenant  Robinson,  aid-de-camp  to  General 
Lane ;  Lieutenant  Colonel  Weatherford,  1st  Illinois  regiment ; 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Morrison,  Major  Trail,  and  Adjutant  White- 
side  (severely  wounded),  2d  Illinois  regiment ;  and  Major  Fry, 
2d  Kentucky  regiment,  as  being  favourably  noticed  for  gallantry 
and  good  conduct.  Major  McCulloch,  quartermaster  in  the 
volunteer  service,  rendered  important  services  before  the  en 
gagement,  in  the  command  of  a  spy  company,  and  during  the 
affair  was  associated  with  the  regular  cavalry.  To  Major  War- 
27* 


314  COR  PS    AND    OFFICERS    DISTINGUISHED. 

ren,  1st  Illinois  volunteers,  I  feel  much  indebted  for  his  firm 
and  judicious  course,  while  exercising  command  in  Saltillo. 

The  medical  staff,  under  the  able  direction  of  Assistant  Sur 
geon  Hitchcock,  were  assiduous  in  attention  to  the  wounded 
upon  the  field,  and  in  their  careful  removal  to  the  rear.  Both 
in  these  respects,  and  in  the  subsequent  organization  and  ser 
vice  of  the  hospitals,  the  administration  of  this  department 
was  every  thing  that  could  be  wished. 

Brigadier  General  Wool  speaks  in  high  terms  of  the  officers 
of  his  staff,  and  I  take  pleasure  in  mentioning  them  here,  having 
witnessed  their  activity  and  zeal  upon  the  field.  Lieutenant 
and  Aid-de-camp  McDowell,  Colonel  Churchill,  inspector 
general,  Captain  Chapman,  assistant  quartermaster,  Lieutenant 
Sitgreaves,  topographical  engineers,  and  Captains  Howard  and 
Davis,  volunteer  service,  are  conspicuously  noticed  by  the  Ge 
neral  for  their  gallantry  and  good  conduct.  Messrs.  March, 
Addicks,  Potts,  Harrison,  Burgess,  and  Dusenbery,  attached  in 
various  capacities  to  General  Wool's  head-quarters,  are  like 
wise  mentioned  for  their  intelligent  alacrity  in  conveying  orders 
to  all  parts  of  the  field. 

In  conclusion,  I  beg  leave  to  speak  of  my  own  staff,  to 
whose  exertions  in  rallying  troops  and  communicating  orders  I 
feel  greatly  indebted.  Major  Bliss,  assistant  adjutant  general, 
Captain  J.  H.  Eaton,  and  Lieutenant  R.  S.  Garnett,  aids-de 
camp,  served  near  my  person,  and  were  prompt  and  zealous  in 
the  discharge  of  every  duty.  Major  Munroe,  beside  rendering 
valuable  service  as  chief  of  artillery,  was  active  and  instru 
mental,  as  were  also  Colonels  Churchill  and  Belknap,  in 
spectors  general,  in  rallying  troops  and  disposing  them  for  the 
defence  of  the  train  and  baggage.  Colonel  Whiting,  quarter 
master  general,  and  Captain  Eaton,  chief  of  the  subsistence 
department,  were  engaged  with  the  duties  of  their  departments, 
and  also  served  in  my  immediate  staff  on  the  field.  Captain 
Sibley,  assistant  quartermaster,  was  necessarily  left  with  the 
head-quarter  camp  near  town,  where  his  services  were  highly 
useful.  Major  Mansfield  and  Lieutenant  Benham,  engineers, 
and  Captain  Linnard  and  Lieutenants  Pope  and  Franklin,  topo 
graphical  engineers,  were  employed  before  and  during  the  en- 


REPORT  OF  KILLED  AND  WOUNDED.  315 


gagement  in  making  reconnoissances,  and  on  the  field  were 
very  active  in  bringing  information  and  in  conveying  my  orders 
to  distant  points.  Lieutenant  Kingsbury,  in  addition  to  his 
proper  duties  as  ordnance  officer,  Captain  Chilton,  assistant 
quartermaster,  and  Majors  Dix  and  Coffee,  served  also  as  extra 
aids-de-camp,  and  were  actively  employed  in  the  transmission 
of  orders.  Mr.  Thomas  L.  Crittenden,  of  Kentucky,  though 
not  in  service,  volunteered  as  my  aid-de-camp  on  this  occasion, 
and  served  with  credit  in  that  capacity.  Major  Craig,  chief  of 
ordnance,  and  Surgeon  Craig,  medical  director,  had  been  de 
tached  on  duty  from  head-quarters,  and  did  not  reach  the 
ground  until  the  morning  of  the  24th,  too  late  to  participate  in 
the  action,  but  in  time  to  render  useful  services  in  their  re 
spective  departments  of  the  staff*. 

I  nra,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Major  General  U.  S.  A.  commanding. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C." 

ABSTRACT  OP  RETURNS  OF  KILLED,  WOUNDED,  AND  MISSING,  IN 
THE  BATTLE. 


WODNDED. 


General  Staff 

First  Dragoons 

Second  Dragoons. . . 

Third  Artillery 

Fourth  Artillery . . . 
Mississippi  Rifles  . . 
Kentucky  Cavalry  . 
Arkansas  Cavalry  . 
Second  Ken.  Foot  . 

First  111.  Foot 

Second  111.  Foot... 
Second  Ind.  Foot. . 
Third  Ind.  Foot. . 


3 
3 

10 
3 
1 
Company  Texas  Vol.,  2 


1 
5 

38 
26 
15 
41 
26 
38 
29 
8 
12 


1 
5 

40 
27 
17 
44 
29 
48 
32 
9 
14 


KILLED,  WOUNDED, 
AND   MISSING. 


1  I 


6 
1 

21 
20 
51 
29 
31 
54 
16 
69 
63 
53 
1 


1 

1 

1 

« 

1 

S 

1 

1 

3 

4 

* 

4 

7 

1 

6 

7 

2 

1 

1 

2 

22 

1 

24 

25 

21 

1 

25 

26 

56 

7 

91 

98 

34 

6 

55 

61 

32 

3 

50 

53 

57 

6 

96 

102 

18 

5 

42 

47 

75 

16 

110 

126 

71 

11 

96 

107 

56 

4 

61 

65 

2 

3 

20 

23 

Grand  total 28  239  267  ...  415  41  456  ...  69  677  746 


316   CAUSE  OF  THE  MEXICAN  DEFEAT. 

The  action  thus  officially  and  generally  described,  was  in 
some  respects  distinguished  above  any  other  in  which  Taylor 
had  commanded — and  it  may  be  added  any  other  which  had 
ever  been  fought  on  this  continent.  The  enemy's  forces  were 
five  to  one  of  the  American,  and  every  arm  proportionably 
superior.  Although  Taylor's  position  was  a  strong  one,  it  was 
not  impregnable  from  the  mere  nature  of  the  ground,  as  the 
temporary  success  of  the  Mexicans  on  his  left  sufficiently  proved. 
Thrice  during  the  day  that  success  seemed  complete,  when  their 
vast  numbers  —  scores  sometimes  against  units  —  pressed  for 
ward  with  courage  and  energy,  lacking  only  the  indomitable 
perseverance  of  their  foes  to  make  victory  secure.  But  the 
fire  of  the  latter,  maintained  with  precision  and  rapidity,  as 
long  as  a  man  remained  to  serve  a  gun,  was  more  than  Mexi 
can  firmness  could  endure.  The  spirit  which  stormed  the 
heights  of  Monterey,  which  rushed  into  its  streets  when  the 
metal  sleet  from  its  forts  and  barricades  swept  down  all  before 
it — that  spirit  was  not  theirs.  Their  courage  could  approach 
or  follow  success,  but  was  unequal  to  the  task  of  defying  de 
feat. 

In  a  private  letter  to  General  E.  G.  W.  Butler,  General 
Taylor  thus  referred  to  certain  incidents  of  the  battle.  The 
concluding  passages  will  arrest  attention,  as  proof  of  the  sin 
gularly  hazardous  position  in  which  he  had  been  placed  by  the 
withdrawal  of  his  regular  troops : 

"  In  the  morning  of  the  23d,  at  sunrise,  the  enemy  renewed 
the  contest  with  an  overwhelming  force — with  artillery,  infantry, 
and  dragoons  —  which  lasted  with  slight  intermissions  until 
dark.  A  portion  of  the  time  the  conflict  was  much  the  se 
verest  I  have  ever  witnessed,  particularly  towards  the  latter 
part  of  the  day,  when  he  (Santa  Anna)  brought  up  his  reserve, 
and  in  spite  of  every  effort  on  our  part,  after  the  greatest  exer 
tions  I  have  ever  witnessed  on  both  sides,  drove  us  by  an  im 
mense  superiority  of  numbers  for  some  distance.  He  had  at 
least  five  to  one  at  that  point  against  us.  Fortunately,  at  the 
most  critical  moment,  two  pieces  of  artillery  which  I  had 
ordered  up  to  support  that  part  of  our  line,  met  our  exhausted 


TAYLOR'S  REFUSAL  TO  RETIRE.   317 

men  retreating,  when  they  were  brought  into  battery  and 
opened  on  the  enemy,  then  within  fifty  yards  in  hot  pursuit, 
with  canister  and  grape,  which  brought  him  to  a  halt  and  soon 
compelled  him  to  fall  back.  In  this  tremendous  contest  we 
lost  three  pieces  of  artillery,  nearly  all  the  men  having  been 
killed  or  crippled,  which  put  it  out  of  our  power  to  bring  them 
off;  nor  did  I  deem  it  advisable  to  attempt  to  regain  them. 

"  The  enemy  made  his  principal  efforts  against  our  flanks.  He 
was  handsomely  repulsed  on  our  right,  but  succeeded  early  in 
the  day  in  gaining  our  left,  in  consequence  of  the  giving  way 
of  one  of  the  volunteer  regiments,  which  could  not  be  rallied  ; 
with  but  few  exceptions,  the  greater  portion  retiring  about  a 
mile  to  a  large  rancho  or  farm-house,  where  our  wagons  and  a 
portion  of  our  stores  were  left.  These  were  soon  after  attacked 
by  the  enemy's  cavalry,  who  were  repulsed  with  some  loss. 

"aFor  several  hours  the  fate  of  the  day  was  extremely  doubt 
ful  ;  so  much  so  that  I  was  urged  by  some  of  the  most  expe 
rienced  officers  to  fall  back  and  take  a  new  position.  This  I 
knew  it  would  never  do  to  attempt  with  volunteers,  and  at 
once  declined  it.  The  scene  had  now  become  one  of  the 
deepest  interest.  Between  the  several  deep  ravines,  there  were 
portions  of  level  land  from  one  to  four  hundred  yards  in  ex 
tent,  which  became  alternately  points  of  attack  and  defence, 
after  our  left  was  turned,  by  both  sides.  These  extended 
along  and  near  the  base  of  the  mountain  for  about  two  miles, 
and  the  struggle  for  them  may  be  very  appropriately  compared 
to  a  game  of  chess.  Night  put  a  stop  to  the  contest,  and, 
strange  to  say,  both  armies  occupied  the  same  positions  they 
did  in  the  morning  before  the  battle  commenced.  Our  artil 
lery  did  more  than  wonders. 

"  We  lay  on  our  arms  all  night,  as  we  had  done  the  two 
previous  ones,  without  fires,  there  being  no  wood  to  be  had, 
and  the  mercury  below  the  freezing  point,  ready  and  expecting 
to  renew  the  contest  the  next  morning ;  but  we  found  at  day 
light  the  enemy  had  retreated  during  the  night,  leaving  his 
killed  and  many  of  his  wounded  for  us  to  bury  and  take  care 
of— carrying  off  every  thing  else,  and  taking  up  a  position  at 


318  CONGRATULATORY    ORDERS. 

this  place.  We  did  not  think  it  advisable  to  pursue,  not  know 
ing  whether  he  would  renew  the  attack,  continue  his  retreat, 
or  wished  to  draw  us  from  our  strong  position ;  but  contented 
ourselves  with  watching  his  movements  closely. 

"  The  loss  on  both  sides  was  very  great,  as  you  may  sup 
pose —  enough  so  on  ours  to  cover  the  whole  country  with 
mourning,  for  some  of  the  noblest  and  purest  of  the  land  have 
fallen.  We  had  two  hundred  and  forty  killed,  and  five  hun 
dred  wounded.  The  enemy  has  suffered  in  still  greater  num 
bers,  but  as  the  dead  and  wounded  are  scattered  all  over  the 
country,  it  is  difficult  to  ascertain  their  number.  The  prisoners 
who  have  fallen  into  our  hands,  between  two  and  three  hun 
dred — enough  to  exchange  for  all  that  have  been  taken  from 
us — .as  Well  as  some  medical  officers  left  behind  to  take  care  of 
the  wounded,  say  that  their  killed  and  wounded  is  not  less 
than  fifteen  hundred,  and  they  say  perhaps  more. 
•  "I  hope  the  greater  portion  of  the  good  people  of  the 
country  will  be  satisfied  with  what  we  have  done  on  this  occa 
sion.  I  flatter  myself  that  our  compelling  a  Mexican  army  of 
more  than  twenty  thousand  men,  completely  organized,  and 
led  by  their  chief  magistrate,  to  retreat,  with  less  than  five 
hundred  regulars  and  about  four  thousand  volunteers,  will 
meet  their  approval.  I  had  not  a  single  company  of  regular 
infantry ;  the  whole  was  taken  from  me." 

Three  days  after  the  battle,  General  Taylor  issued  the  fol 
lowing  congratulatory  orders : — 

"  1.  The  commanding  general  has  the  grateful  task  of  con 
gratulating  the  troops  upon  the  brilliant  success  which  attended 
their  arms  in  the  conflicts  of  the  22d  and  the  23d.  Confident 
in  the  immense  superiority  of  numbers,  and  stimulated  by  the 
presence  of  a  distinguished  leader,  the  Mexican  troops  were 
yet  repulsed  in  efforts  to  force  our  lines,  and  finally  withdrew 
with  immense  loss  from  the  field. 

"2.  The  general  would  express  his  obligations  to  the  offi 
cers  and  men  engaged,  for  the  cordial  support  which  they  ren 
dered  throughout  the  action.  It  will  be  his  highest  pride  to 
bring  to  the  notice  of  the  government  the  conspicuous  gallantry 


LETTER    TO    HENRY    CLAY.  319 

of  different  officers  and  corps,  whose  unwavering  steadiness 
more  than  once  saved  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  He  would  also 
express  his  high  satisfaction  with  the  conduct  of  the  small 
command  left  to  hold  Saltillo.  Though  not  so  seriously  en 
gaged  as  their  comrades,  their  services  were  very  important 
and  efficiently  rendered.  While  bestowing  this  j  ust  tribute  to  the 
good  conduct  of  the  troops,  the  general  deeply  regrets  to  say 
that  there  were  not  a  few  exceptions.  He  trusts  that  those  who 
fled  ingloriously  to  Buena  Vista,  and  even  to  Saltillo,  will  seek 
an  opportunity  to  retrieve  their  reputation,  and  to  emulate  the 
bravery  of  their  comrades  who  bore  the  brunt  of  the  battle, 
and  sustained,  against  fearful  odds,  the  honour  of  our  flag. 

"  The  exultation  of  success  is  checked  by  the  heavy  sacri 
fice  of  life  which  it  has  cost,  embracing  many  officers  of  high 
rank  and  rare  merit.  While  the  sympathies  of  a  grateful 
country  will  be  given  to  the  bereaved  families  and  friends  of 
those  who  nobly  fell,  their  illustrious  example  will  remain  for 
the  benefit  and  admiration  of  the  army." 

As  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  was  the  most  remarkable  of 
Taylor's  victories,  so  it  was  most  memorable  for  its  cost  of 
blood  and  life.  The  limits  of  this  volume  are  already  so  ex 
tended,  that  it  is  necessary  to  forego  the  grateful  labour  of  re 
cording  instances  of  singular  devotion  and  heroism  on  the  part 
of  many  officers  and  corps.  The  official  report,  already  quoted, 
distinguishes  the  most  notable  of  these — instances  which  in  the 
history  of  war,  ever  painful,  ever  deplorable,  may  well  be  the 
theme  of  a  nation's  pride  and  gratitude.  There  are  a  few, 
however,  of  the  noble  dead,  whom  General  Taylor's  peculiar 
regard  has  distinguished  by  tributes  to  their  memory,  too  ho 
nourable  to  himself  to  be  omitted  here.  These  tributes  are 
the  annexed  letters : — 

"Head-Quarters,  Agua  Nueva,  March  1,  1847. 

"  MY  DEAR  SIR  : — You  will  no  doubt  have  received,  before 
this  can  reach  you,  the  deeply  distressing  intelligence  of  the 
death  of  your  son  in  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista.  It  is  with  no 
wish  of  intruding  upon  the  sanctuary  of  parental  sorrow,  and 


320   LETTER    TO    EX-GOVERNOR    LINCOLN. 

with  no  hope  of  administering  any  consolation  to  your  wounded 
heart,  that  I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  addressing  you  these  few 
lines ;  but  I  have  felt  it  a  duty  which  I  owe  to  the  memory  of 
the  distinguished  dead,  to  pay  a  willing  tribute  to  his  many 
excellent  qualities,  and  while  my  feelings  are  still  fresh,  to  ex 
press  the  desolation  which  his  untimely  loss,  and  that  of  other 
kindred  spirits,  has  occasioned. 

"I  had  but  a  casual  acquaintance  with  your  son,  until  he 
became  for  a  time  a  member  of  my  military  family,  and  I  can 
truly  say  that  no  one  ever  won  more  rapidly  upon  my  regard, 
or  established  a  more  lasting  claim  to  my  respect  and  esteem. 
Manly  and  honourable  in  every  impulse,  with  no  feeling  but 
for  the  honour  of  the  service  and  of  the  country,  he  gave  every 
assurance  that  in  the  hour  of  need  I  could  lean  with  confidence 
upon  his  support.  Nor  was  I  disappointed.  Under  the  guid 
ance  of  himself  and  the  lamented  McKee,  gallantly  did  the 
sons  of  Kentucky,  in  the  thickest  of  the  strife,  uphold  the  ho 
nour  of  the  state  and  the  country. 

"  A  grateful  people  will  do  justice  to  the  memory  of  those 
who  fell  on  that  eventful  day.  But  I  may  be  permitted  to  ex 
press  the  bereavement  which  I  feel  in  the  loss  of  valued  friends. 
To  your  son  I  felt  bound  by  the  strongest  ties  of  private  re 
gard,  and  when  I  miss  his  familiar  face,  and  those  of  McKee 
and  Hardin,  I  can  say  with  truth,  that  I  feel  no  exultation  in 
our  success. 

"With  the  expression  of  my  deepest  and  most  heartfelt 
sympathies  for  your  irreparable  loss,  I  remain, 

«  Your  friend, 
«  Z.  TAYLOR. 

«  Honourable  Henry  Clay." 


«  Head-Quarters,  Agua  Nueva,  April  3,  1847. 

"Sin: — Your  letter  of  the  4th  ult.,  in  relation  to  the  re 
mains  and  effects  of  your  much  lamented  son,  Captain  George 
Lincoln,  has  safely  reached  me.  I  beg  leave  to  offer  my 
heartfelt  sympathies  with  you  in  the  heavy  affliction  which  has 


POPULAR    HONOURS    TO    TAYLOR.         321 

befallen  you  in  the  death  of  this  accomplished  gentleman.  In 
his  fall,  you  have  been  bereaved  of  a  son  of  whom  you  might 
be  most  justly  proud,  while  the  army  has  lost  one  of  its  most 
gallant  soldiers.  It  is  hoped,  however,  that  your  deep  grief 
will  be  assuaged  in  some  degree  in  the  proud  reflection  that 
he  fell  nobly  upon  the  field  of  battle,  while  gallantly  discharg 
ing  the  duties  of  his  profession. 

"  I  learn  upon  inquiry  that  the  body  of  your  son  was  care 
fully  removed  from  the  field  immediately  after  his  death,  and 
that  it  was  decently  interred  by  itself.  Its  identity  is  therefore 
a  matter  of  certainty.  His  effects  are  understood  to  have  been 
collected  with  due  care,  and  are  now  under  the  direction  of 
General  Wool. 

"  I  shall  take  an  early  occasion  to  convey  your  wishes  on 
this  subject  to  that  officer,  with  the  request  that  he  will  be  kind 
enough  to  put  the  remains  and  effects,  carefully  prepared  for 
transportation,  en  route  for  New  York  or  Boston,  by  the  first 
safe  opportunity,  and  that  he  give  you,  at  the  same  time,  due 
notice  thereof, 

"I  am,  Sir,  with  great  respect, 

"  Your  ob't  serv't, 

«Z.  TAYLOR. 

«  Ex-Governor  Lincoln,  Massachusetts." 

The  news  of  the  victory  of  Buena  Vista  was  received  in 
every  part  of  the  United  States  as  the  crowning  evidence  of 
Taylor's  generalship.  He  had  assumed  the  responsibility  of 
holding  his  position  beyond  Monterey.  Knowing  his  resources 
and  trusting  in  his  officers  and  troops,  he  hesitated  not  to  risk 
every  thing  on  the  field  against  the  host  of  Santa  Anna.  He 
has  himself  done  justice  to  the  brilliant  part  which  General 
Wool  bore  in  the  action,  approving  all  the  preliminary  disposi 
tions  of  that  able  commander.  He  has  also  borne  testimony 
to  the  services  of  all  others  who  took  part  in  the  action.  It 
was  the  province  of  the  nation,  in  return,  to  acknowledge 
the  surpassing  merit  of  the  commander-in-chief.  That  merit 
was  acknowledged  in  every  form  of  popular  rejoicing  and  con- 
28 


322  CAMP    AT    WALNUT    SPRINGS. 

gratulation.  Cities  and  states  were  emulous  in  exhibitions  of 
sympathy  for  his  trials,  exultation  for  his  success,  and  respect 
for  his  character. 

6n  the  2d  of  March,  General  Taylor  entrusted  to  Mr.  Grit- 
ten  den  the  official  reports  of  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  to  be 
conveyed  to  Washington.  He  was  escorted  by  Major  Gid- 
dings,  commanding  two  hundred  and  sixty  infantry,  and  two 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  having  in  charge  also  one  hundred  and 
fifty  wagons.  When  within  a  mile  of  Seralvo,  on  the  road 
from  Monterey  to  Camargo,  the  escort,  which  was  divided  for 
the  protection  of  the  wagons,  was  attacked  by  sixteen  hundred 
Mexican  cavalry  and  infantry,  under  Generals  Urrea  and  Ro- 
maro.  After  a  brief  and  gallant  struggle,  the  enemy  was  re 
pulsed  with  the  loss  of  forty-five  killed  and  wounded.  The 
loss  in  Major  Giddings'  command  was  seventeen  men,  fifteen 
of  whom  were  teamsters.  General  Taylor,  subsequently  hear 
ing  that  Urrea  was  in  command  of  a  still  larger  force,  pursued 
him  with  a  command  of  about  twelve  hundred  Ohio  and  Vir 
ginia  volunteers,  a  squadron  of  May's  dragoons,  and  two  com 
panies  of  Bragg's  artillery,  as  far  as  Caidereta,  where  he 
learned  that  the  fugitives  had  crossed  the  mountains.  General 
Taylor  then  returned  to  the  camp  at  the  Walnut  Springs,  three 
miles  from  Monterey,  which,  since  that  time  has  continued  to 
be  his  head-quarters.  The  reduction  of  the  number  of  his 
troops  by  the  expiration  of  their  terms  of  service,  and  by  re 
moval  to  other  quarters,  has  prevented  on  his  part  any  offensive 
operations  in  the  direction  of  San  Luis,  if,  indeed,  such  con 
tinued  to  be  entertained,  after  the  direct  movement  of  General 
Scott  upon  the  capital.  For  this  reason,  as  no  action  of  mo 
ment —  compared  with  the  great  and  stirring  events  of  the 
Mexican  war,  prior  to  March — has  occurred  to  excite  renewed 
attention  to  the  army  under  Taylor's  command,  it  is  not 
deemed  necessary  at  present  to  record  the  incidents  of  its  quiet 
occupation  of  the  positions  secured  by  the  final  victory  of 
Buena  Vista.  When  another  land-mark  in  Taylor's  career 
shall  have  been  reared,  it  will  be  proper  to  follow  his  level 
progress  in  this  interval. 


TAYLOR    AND    THE    PRESIDENCY.          323 

From  the  time  that  the  character  of  General  Taylor's  first 
achievements  on  the  Rio  Grande  began  to  be  appreciated  in 
the  United  States,  he  was  regarded  by  a  large  body  of  the 
people  as  a  proper  candidate  for  the  Presidency.  Monterey 
and  Buena  Vista  confirmed  the  preference  of  many  who  had 
previously  wavered.  Numerous  meetings,  held  in  different 
parts  of  the  Union,  gave  form  and  strength  to  this  sentiment. 
Under  the  sanction  of  these  meetings,  as  well  as  on  individual 
responsibility,  many  letters  were  addressed  to  General  Taylor, 
tendering  formal  nominations  for  the  Presidency,  or  requesting 
a  definition  of  his  political  opinions.  To  all  these  letters  he 
has  replied  substantially  in  the  same  terms,  expressing  modestly 
his  doubts  concerning  the  propriety  of  undertaking  an  office 
for  which  he  deems  others  more  peculiarly  fitted,  and  declining 
to  accept  any  nomination  for  it,  imposing  pledges  on  his  part 
to  any  political  party.  It  is  unnecessary  to  quote  more  than 
one  of  these  letters  of  Taylor — which,  as  the  latest  from  his 
pen,  comprehends  not  only  the  declarations  of  those  of  earlier 
date,  but  contains  a  distinct  avowal  of  his  political  partialities 
not  previously  expressed.  This  document  is  as  follows : 

Head-Quarters,  Army  of  Occupation. 
Camp  near  Monterey,  August  10,  1847. 

SIR:  Your  letter  of  the  17th  ultimo,  requesting  of  me  an 
exposition  of  my  views  on  the  questions  of  national  policy  now 
at  issue  between  the  political  parties  of  the  United  States,  has 
duly  reached  me. 

I  must  take  occasion  to  say  that  many  of  my  letters,  ad 
dressed  to  gentlemen  in  the  United  States  in  answer  to  similar 
inquiries,  have  already  been  made  public,  and  I  had  greatly 
hoped  that  all  persons  interested  had,  by  this  time,  obtained 
from  them  a  sufficiently  accurate  knowledge  of  my  views  and 
desires  in  relation  to  this  subject.  As  it  appears,  however, 
that  such  is  not  the  case,  I  deem  it  proper,  in  reply  to  your 
letter,  distinctly  to  repeat  that  I  am  not  before  the  People  of 
the  United  States  as  a  candidate  for  the  next  Presidency.  It 
is  my  great  desire  to  return  at  the  close  of  this  war  to  the  dis- 


324  HIS    DECLARATIONS    ON    THE    SUBJECT. 

charge  of  those  professional  duties  and  to  the  enjoyment  of 
those  domestic  pursuits  from  which  I  was  called  at  its  com 
mencement,  and  for  which  my  tastes  and  education  best  fit 
me. 

I  deem  it  but  due  to  candour  to  state,  at  the  same  time,  that, 
if  I  were  called  to  the  Presidential  Chair  by  the  general  voice 
of  the  people,  without  regard  to  their  political  differences, 
I  should  deem  it  to  be  my  duty  to  accept  the  office.  But 
while  I  freely  avow  my  attachment  to  the  administrative 
policy  of  our  early  Presidents,  I  desire  it  to  be  understood  that 
I  cannot  submit,  even  in  thus  accepting  it,  to  the  exaction  of 
any  other  pledge  as  to  the  course  I  should  pursue  than  that  of 
discharging  its  functions  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  and  strictly 
in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the  constitution. 

I  have  thus  given  you  the  circumstances  under  which  only 
can  I  be  induced  to  accept  the  high  and  responsible  office  of 
President  of  the  United  States.  I  need  hardly  add  that  I  can 
not  in  any  case  permit  myself  to  be  brought  before  the  people 
exclusively  by  any  of  the  political  parties  that  now  so  unfor 
tunately  divide  our  country,  as  their  candidate  for  this  office. 

It  affords  me  great  pleasure,  in  conclusion,  fully  to  concur 
with  you  in  your  high  and  just  estimate  of  the  virtues,  both 
of  head  and  heart,  of  the  distinguished  citizens  [Messrs.  CLAY, 
WEBSTER,  ADAMS,  McDurriE,  and  CALHOUN]  mentioned  in 
your  letter.  J  have  never  yet  exercised  the  privilege  of  voting  ; 
but  had  I  been  called  upon  at  the  last  Presidential  election  to  do 
so,  I  should  most  certainly  have  cast  my  vote  for  Mr.  Clay. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Major  General  U.  S.  Army,  commanding. 

F.  S.  BHONSOW,  M.  D.,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

The  concluding  sentence  of  this  letter  sets  at  rest  any  doubt 
of  Taylor's  political  principles,  while  it  confirms  unequivocally 
his  former  declarations  to  stand  as  a  candidate  for  the  President, 
if  at  all,  independent  of  the  obligations  of  a  partizan. 

In  the  attempt  to  trace  through  the  preceding  pages  an  out- 


CONCLUDING    REMARKS.  325 

line  of  the  public  career  of  General  Taylor,  it  has  been  neces 
sary  to  touch  lightly  many  points,  and  to  omit  others  wholly, 
which  would  serve  to  illustrate  his  character.  Its  prominent 
traits,  however,  are  sufficiently  revealed  to  prove  it  a  union  of 
rare  moral  worth  and  mental  power,  assured  by  a  physical 
temperament  of  the  happiest  mould.  In  considering  Taylor's 
fitness  for  the  exigencies  in  which  he  has  been  tried,  we  find  a 
singular  weight  and  balance  of  qualities  ;  a  vigorous  constitu 
tion  to  endure  hardships ;  firm  nerves  to  brave  danger ;  quick 
perception,  forecast,  prudence,  invention,  decision,  indepen 
dence,  fortitude,  and  integrity.  And  all  these  gifts  are  made 
useful  by  tireless  industry,  and  graceful  by  genuine  modesty. 
For  the  duties  of  a  profession,  adopted  in  the  generous  ardour 
of  youth,  he  has  foregone,  in  the  sober  maturity  of  years,  the 
tranquillity  of  home,  the  endearments  of  kindred,  the  luxuries 
of  affluence.  When  the  war,  which  still  demands  his  exertions, 
shall  have  ceased,  whether' his  own  inclination  may  lead  him 
to  the  retirement  of  private  life,  or  the  nation's  desire  place 
him  on  the  highest  platform  of  public  responsibility,  his  services 
cannot  be  the  less  gratefully  remembered,  nor  his  virtues  the 
more  faithfully  proved. 


28. 


ANECDOTES 

OF 

GENERAL  TAYLOR. 

TAYLOR'S  REPUBLICAN  HABITS. 

THE  committee  from  New  Orleans,  which  presented  General  Taylor  a  sword 
on  behalf  of  their  fellow-citizens,  gave  the  following  account  of  the  interview : 
«  We  presented  ourselves  at  the  opening  of  one  of  the  tents,  before  which  was 
standing  a  dragoon's  horse,  much  used  by  hard  service.  Upon  a  camp-stool  at 

our  left  sat  General  ,  in  busy  conversation  with  a  hearty-looking  old 

gentleman,  sitting  on  a  box,  cushioned  with  an  Arkansas  blanket,  dressed  in 
Attakapas  pantaloons  and  a  linen  roundabout,  and  remarkable  for  a  bright  flash 
ing  eye,  a  high  forehead,  a  farmer  look,  and  <  rough  and  ready'  appearance.  It 
is  hardly  necessary  for  us  to  say  that  this  personage  was  General  Taylor,  the 
commanding  hero  of  two  of  the  most  remarkable  battles  on  record,  and  the  man 
who,  by  his  firmness  and  decision  of  character,  has  shed  lustre  upon  the  Ame 
rican  arms. 

"  There  was  no  pomp  about  his  tent ;  a  couple  of  rough  blue  chests  served 
for  his  table,  upon  which  was  strewn,  in  masterly  confusion,  a  variety  of  official 
documents:  a  quiet-looking,  citizen-dressed  personage  made  his  appearance  upon 
hearing  the  significant  call  of  « Ben,'  bearing,  on  a  tin  salver,  a  couple  of  black 
bottles  and  shining  tumblers,  arranged  around  an  earthen  pitcher  of  Rio  Grande 
water.  These  refreshments  were  deposited  upon  a  stool,  and  we  <  helped  our 
selves,'  by  invitation.  We  bore  to  the  general  a  complimentary  gift  from  some 
of  his  fellow-citizens  of  New  Orleans,  which  he  declined  receiving  for  the  pre 
sent  ;  giving  at  the  same  time  a  short  but  'hard  sense'  lecture  on  the  impropriety 
of  naming  children  and  places  after  men  before  they  were  dead,  or  of  his  re 
ceiving  a  present  for  his  services  « before  the  campaign,  so  far  as  he  was  con 
cerned,  was  finished.'  Jfc  . ' 

«  With  the  highest  possible  admiration  of  the  republican  simplicity  of  the 
manners  and  character  of  General  Taylor,  we  bade  him  good-day,  with  a  higher 
appreciation  of  our  native  land,  for  possessing  such  a  man  as  a  citizen,  and  of 
its  institutions  for  moulding  such  a  character." 


The  following  anecdote  is  told  by  a  correspondent  of  the  PennsylvaniAn- 
quirer  :  "  During  the  Florida  campaign,  a  certain  young  officer,  after  receiving 
his  commission,  was  ordered  to  join  the  army  in  that  quarter.  His  first  duty 
was,  of  course,  to  report  himself  to  General  Taylor.  After  a  very  tedious 
journey,  however,  through  the  woods,  our  officer  arrived  at  a  small  shanty, 
called  a  tavern,  about  fifty  miles  from  head-quarters,  where  he  thought  proper  to 
stay  three  days.  There  were  onlv  two  visitors  there  besides  himself.  One  of 
them,  an  oldish,  shabby-looking  man,  with  a  black  hat,  minusflfct  of  the  crown, 
and  a  piece  of  twine  for  a  ribbon,  was  very  inquisitive,  and  anrohg  other  things 

(326) 


ANECDOTES    OF    TAYLOR.  327 

asked  our  officer  what  excuse  he  intended  to  make  for  his  delay  in  reporting 
himself  to  the  General. 

" « Oh,'  said  the  officer, « they  say  Taylor  is  a  very  easy  old  soul,  and  I  can 
easily  make  up  an  excuse.'  On  going  to  bed  that  night,  the  officer  asked  the 
landlord  who  that  impudent,  inquisitive  old  fellow  was  1  «  Why,'  said  the  host, 
« dont  you  know  General  Taylor  ?'  About  an  hour  afterwards,  at  midnight,  the 
tramp  of  a  horse's  feet  was  heard,  making  quick  tracks  towards  head-quarters." 

The  extreme  simplicity  of  General  Taylor's  habits  has  become  proverbial ; 
but,  like  all  human  beings,  if  the  old  General  was  not  proud  of  his  dress,  or  of 
the  pride  and  pomp  of  «  glorious  war,"  he  had  his  weakness,  and  it  displayed 
itself  in  his  state  carriage.  This  magnificent  vehicle  was  one  of  the  last  pur 
chases  the  old  soldier  made  ere  he  started  for  the  wars.  It  was  none  of  these 
high-backed,  four-horse,  soft-cushioned,  coat-of-arms  panelled  affairs,  such  as 
Martin  Van  Buren  imported  from  England  to  ride  in  when  he  was  President, 
but  it  was,  in  vulgar  parlance,  a  Jersey  wagon,  and  one  of  the  ugliest  and  most  in 
convenient  ones  ever  sent  out  from  that  sand-soil  State.  We  have  no  doubt 
that  this  same  wagon  was  kept  on  hand  in  some  little  country  town  until  it  was 
discovered  that  no  one  would  buy  it,  and  it  was  sent  out  to  New  Orleans  to  sell. 
The  General  looked  at  it,  and  it  struck  his  fancy  as  one  of  the  most  luxuriant, 
strong  axle-treed,  hard-seated,  low-backed,  first-rate  carriages  that  ever  was 
made ;  so  he  bought  it,  shipped  it,  and  in  due  time  landed  it  at  Corpus  Christi. 
It  was  evidently  General  Taylor's  pet ;  he  kept  it  standing  right  up  beside 
Ringgold  and  Duncan's  batteries,  as  if  he  would  have  those  sons  of  thunder 
blaze  away  at  any  body  that  did  not  say  that  it  was  the  greatest  carriage  that 
ever  was  made. 

The  old  General  was  never  seen  in  it.  By  many  it  was  supposed  that  the 
top  was  so  low  that  such  a  thing  was  impossible.  When  he  started  to  Mata- 
moros  from  Corpus  Christi,  it  was  made  the  carrier  of  the  old  General's  blue 
chest,  and  the  celebrated  overcoat  that  got  wounded  at  Buena  Vista.  After  the 
battles  of  the  8th  and  9th,  a  change  for  two  hours  and  fifty-seven  minutes  came 
over  his  feelings — he  had  read,  no  doubt,  of  "  General  Scott's  splendid  military 
carriage" — and  the  General  came  to  the  conclusion  that  he  must  put  on  a  little 
grandeur,  so  he  got  into  his  military  carriage,  and  started  from  Point  Isabel  to 
Matamoros,  to  complete  his  victories  by  driving  Arista  from  that  town.  No 
record  was  ever  made  when  he  resumed  his  old  gray,  but  long  before  half  the 
distance  was  completed,  a  sick  soldier  was  in  the  General's  place,  and  he  him 
self  was  again  on  horseback.  Nothing  of  an  exciting  nature  occurred  to  the 
old  «  Jersey  carryall"  for  a  long  time.  It  was  duly  dragged  about,  and  stationed 
where  its  owner  could  see  it  taken  care  of  and  honoured.  It  went  up  to  Mon 
terey,  and  finally  down  to  Victoria.  When  the  General  was  ordered  back  from 
his  march  to  Vera  Cruz,  the  old  wagon-top  looked  exceedingly  surly,  and  its 
wheels  screeched  awfully.  On  this  trip  it  met  with  a  sad  disaster.  A  drunken 
teamster  run  his  baggage  wagon  into  it,  tore  the  hind  wheels  off,  and  otherwise 
laid  it  in  ruins.  Now  the  old  General  had  philosophy  enough  to  pocket,  with 
out  repining,  the  orders  that  were  so  humiliating  to  his  pride  ;  but  he  had  not 
philosophy  enough  to  pocket  the  destruction  of  his  state  carriage,  so  he  rode  up 
to  the  unfortunate  teamster,  and  catching  him  by  both  ears,  he  shook  the  fellow's 
head  violently,  exclaiming  «  what  did  you  do  that  for  ]  I  brought  it  (the  wagon) 
all  the  way  from  Corpus  Christi !"  The  excitement  soon  passed  away,  the  old 
General  cast  a  lingering  glance  at  the  ruins  of  his  pet,  and  left  it  to  decay  beside 
the  road. 


328  ANECDOTES    OF    TAYLOR. 

4 

Among  the  volunteers  in  the  Florida  campaign  was  a  «  gentleman's  son" — 
a  full  private,  who  heartily  sick  of  rainy  weather,  mud,  and  no  shelter,  first 
went  to  his  captain  with  his  complaints,  but  meeting  with  no  particular  sym 
pathy,  resolved  to  have  a  talk  with  General  Taylor  himself.  Arrived  at  the 
commander's  quarters,  the  General  was  pointed  out  to  him,  but  he  was  rather 
incredulous.  "That  old  fellow  General  Taylor]  Nonsense!"  Satisfied, 
however,  that  such  was  even  the  case,  he  marched  up,  and  rather  patronizingly 
opened  his  business. 

«  General  Taylor,  I  believe." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

«  Well,  General,  I'm  devilish  glad  to  see  you — am,  indeed."  The  General 
returned  the  civility. 

"  General,  you  '11  excuse  me,  but  since  I  've  been  here  I  've  been  doing  all  I 
could  for  you  —  have,  indeed  ;  but  the  fact  is,  the  accommodations  are  very  bad 
— they  are,  indeed  ;  mud,  sir !  bletged  to  lie  down  in  if,  actually  ;  and  the  fact 
is,  General,  I  'm  a  gentleman's  son,  and  not  used  to  it !" 

The  General,  no  doubt  strongly  impressed  with  the  fact  of  having  a  gentle 
man's  son  in  his  army,  expressed  his  regret  that  such  annoyance  should  ever 
exist,  under  any  circumstances,  in  a  civilized  army. 

«  Well — but,  General,  what  am  I  to  do?" 

"  Why,  really,  I  don't  know,  unless  you  take  my  place." 

"  Well,  now,  that 's  civil — 'tis,  indeed.  Of  course  don't  mean  to  turn  you 
out,  but  a  few  hours'  sleep — a  cot,  or  a  bunk,  or  any  thing,  would  be  so  refresh 
ing  !  Your  place — where  is  it,  General  ?" 

"  Oh,  just  drop  down — any  where  about  here — any  place  about  camp  will 
answer !" 

The  look  which  the  "  gentleman's  son"  gave  the  General  was  rather  peculiar. 

"  Well,  no  wonder  they  call  you  «  Rough  and  Ready,'  "  said  he ;  and,  amid 
the  smiles  of  all  but  "  Rough  and  Ready"  himself,  the  "  gentleman's  son"  re- 
turned  to  take  his  chance  of  the  weather. 

-  '   *  -4^ •**     -*>•  ,  '^ 

TAYLOR'S  COURAGE  AND  DETERMINATION. 

"By  way  of  illustrating  an  important  characteristic  of  General  Taylor,  to 
wit,  determination,  I  will  briefly  relate  a  scene  that  occurred  on  the  battle 
ground  of  Buena  Vista,  during  the  action  of  the  23d.  At  a  time  when  the 
fortunes  of  the  day  seemed  extremely  problematical — when  many  of  our  side 
even  despaired  of  success — the  General  took  his  position  on  a  commanding 
height,  overlooking  the  two  armies.  This  was  about  three  or  perhaps  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  enemy,  who  had  succeeded  in  gaining  an  advan 
tageous  position,  made  a  fierce  charge  upon  our  column,  and  fought  with  a  des 
peration  that  seemed  for  a  time  to  insure  success  to  their  arms.  The  struggle 
lasted  for  some  time.  All  the  while,  General  Taylor  was  a  silent  spectator,  his 
countenance  exhibiting  the  most  anxious  solicitude,  alternating  between  hope 
and  despondency.  His  staff,  perceiving  his  perilous  situation,  (for  he  was  ex 
posed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy,)  approached  him  and  implored  him  to  retire.  He 
heeded  them  not.  His  thoughts  were  intent  upon  victory  or  defeat.  He  knew 
not  at  this  moment  what  the  result  would  be.  He  felt  that  that  engagement 
was  to  decide  his  fate.  He  had  given  all  his  orders  and  selected  his  position. 
If  the  day  went  against  him  he  was  irretrievably  lost ;  if  for  him,  he  could  re 
joice  in  common  with  his  countrymen,  at  the  triumphant  success  of  our  arms. 

"Such  seemed  to  be  his  thoughts  —  his  determination.  And  when  he  saw 
(he  enemy  give  way  and  retreat  in  the  utmost  confusion,  he  gave  free  vent  to 


ANECDOTES    OF    TAYLOR.  329 

his  pent-up  feelings.  His  right  leg  was  quickly  disengaged  from  the  pommel  of 
the  saddle,  where  it  had  remained  during  the  whole  of  the  fierce  encounter— 
his  arms,  which  were  calmly  folded  over  his  breast,  relaxed  their  hold — his  feet 
fairly  danced  in  the  stirrups,  and  his  whole  body  was  in  motion.  It  was  a 
moment  of  the  most  exciting  and  intense  interest.  His  face  was  suffused  with 
tears.  The  day  was  won — the  victory  complete — his  little  army  saved  from  the 
disgrace  of  a  defeat,  and  he  could  not  refrain  from  weeping  for  joy  at  what  had 
seemed  to  so  many,  but  a  moment  before,  as  an  impossible  result.  Long  may 
the  noble  and  kind-hearted  old  hero  live  to  enjoy  the  honours  of  his  numerous 
and  brilliant  victories,  and  many  other  honours  that  a  grateful  country  will  ere 
long  bestow  upon  him." — Lieutenant  Corwin. 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  a  volunteer  at  Monterey: — "You  may  probably  wish 
to  know  how  a  young  soldier  feels  when  he  smells  powder  for  the  first  time — 
I  will  tell  you.  At  first  I  felt  as  though  I  should  like  to  have  been  out  of  the  party 
— I  felt  decidedly  <  queer,'  and  looked  from  one  end  of  the  battalion  to  the  other 
to  see  if  I  could  see  any  one  run.  Yes,  I  felt  like  running,  I  must  acknow 
ledge,  but  they  all  stood  like  men,  and  I  could  not  bear  the  idea  to  be  the  first 
to  run,  and,  therefore,  kept  on  with  the  rest.  The  Tennesseeans  were  about  ten 
yards  in  our  advance,  the  Mississippians  about  the  same  distance  in  our  rear. 
You  will  therefore  see,  gentlemen,  that  I  had  to  « stand  up  to  the  rack,  fodder  or 
no  fodder.' 

"  At  this  moment  an  awful  fire  was  opened  on  the  Tennesseeans.  They  fell 
by  scores,  but  the  balance  stood  like  veterans.  We  were  fired  upon  by  a  cross 
fire  from  nine  and  twelve  pounders,  and  a  murderous  discharge  of  small  arms 
from  the  corner  of  streets,  doors,  windows,  and  tops  of  houses. 

"  By  this  time,  Colonel  Watson  was  trying  to  get  us  ahead  of  the  Tennes 
seeans,  (having  applied  for  the  advance,  and  received  from  General  Taylor  the 
promise  of  it,)  and,  while  in  the  act  of  giving  three  cheers,  was  shot  down.  He 
was  on  our  right,  some  twenty  paces  ahead  of  us.  I  saw  him  fall,  and  all  ap 
prehension  now  left  me.  I  made  an  involuntary  effort  to  get  to  him  to  afford 
him  help,  but  was  borne  on  by  the  pressure  of  the  mass  behind,  and  willingly 
yielded  to  it,  impelled  by  a  thirst  for  revenge  that  would  have  carried  me  through 
a  storm  of  bullets  or  laid  me  out  in  Monterey.  We  were  now  within  fifty 
yards  of  the  wall,  behind  which  the  enemy  were  lying  in  perfect  security,  and 
at  this  moment  General  Taylor  rode  up  in  gallant  style,  accompanied  by  a  young 
officer. 

"  Now  came  the  thrilling  scene  of  all.  A  huge  Tennesseean  sung  out  <  silence, 
men — here  comes  Old  Zack — three  cheers  for  Old  Zack  !'  Three  tremendous 
cheers  were  now  given,  until 

'Heaven's  broad  arch  rang  back  the  sound.' 
I  trembled  for  his  safety,  for  I  expected  to  see  him  fall  every  moment." 


A  volunteer  at  Monterey  thus  mentions  Taylor's  calm  bravery: — «  Monterey 
is  the  strongest  place  naturally  that  I  ever  saw  with  the  eye  or  in  print.  There 
is  an  open  plain,  three  to  four  miles  long,  and  four  or  five  wide  in  front,  except 
a  range  of  hills,  about  forty  feet  high,  behind  which  the  town  lies.  In  the  rear, 
and  on  the  right  and  left,  the  mountains  back  right  up  to  it,  and  rise  several 
hundred  feet  high  abruptly  and  almost  perpendicularly,  while  the  only  pass  is 
through  -a  mountain  gorge  directly  in  its  centre.  I  was  within  ten  feet  of  Gen- 


330  ANECDOTES    OF    TAYLOR. 

eral  Taylor,  in  the  town,  on  the  21st.  He  was  as  cool  as  a  cucumber,  and 
ordered  us  to  pass  into  the  city  and  break  open  the  houses.  God  knows  how 
any  of  us  got  out."  

At  the  time  General  Taylor  was  conducting  the  Florida  war  against  the  Semi- 
noles,  he  became  remarkable  among  the  Indians  for  his  singular  disregard  of 
danger.  He  never  hesitated  to  move  about  unattended,  and  generally,  when 
riding  out  on  important  business,  he  kept  a  mile  or  two  ahead  of  his  escort.  No 
matter  how  many  Indians  were  prowling  about,  the  old  General  seemed  uncon 
scious  that  they  would  harm  him,  and  often,  when  only  armed  parties  could 
escape  attack,  General  Taylor  would  trust  himself  alone  under  some  wide- 
spreading  tree  in  close  proximity  with  the  enemy,  and  thus  circumstanced,  he 
would  eat  his  frugal  meal,  and  if  desirable  indulge  in  a  sound  sleep.  At  the 
time  the  Indians  were  most  troublesome  to  our  troops,  General  Taylor  announced 
his  determination  to  go  from  Fort  King  to  Tampa  Bay,  which  journey  would 
take  him  through  nearly  one  hundred  miles  of  hostile  country.  The  jaunt  was 
considered  by  every  body  as  a  most  desperate  adventure.  The  morning  for 
starting  came,  when  the  General's  travelling  companions,  Major  Bliss  and  a 
young  lieutenant,  began  to  look  wistfully  around  for  the  appearance  of  the 
escort.  In  due  time,  six  dragoons,  all  saddled  and  bridled,  made  their  appear 
ance.  There  was  a  force  to  meet  several  thousand  wily  Seminoles,  who  filled 
up  every  nook  and  corner  between  Fort  King  and  Tampa  Bay  !  After  some 
hesitation,  one  of  the  General's  friends  suggested  that  the  escort  was  not  suffi 
ciently  strong,  and  that  a  requisition  should  be  made  for  a  greater  force.  The 
General  examined  the  appearance  of  the  six  dragoons  attentively  for  a  moment, 
and  then  remarked  if  the  number  was  not  sufficient,  two  more  might  be  added 
to  it.  

Colonel  Jefferson  Davis,  who,  from  the  connection  existing,  is  not  very  likely 
to  be  influenced  by  other  than  true  and  proper  motives,  is  represented  by  the 
New  Orleans  papers  as  having  used  the  following  language  concerning  General 
Taylor : — After  complimenting  his  fellow  companions  from  other  States,  he  for 
a  moment  dwelt  upon  the  virtues  of  the  old  hero  who  had  led  them  all  to  vic 
tory,  and  to  whom  they  looked  up  as  children  to  a  parent.  Colonel  Davis  said 
that  General  Taylor  had  shown  himself  the  distinguished  soldier  of  the  age,  yet 
he  was  equally  remarkable  for  his  kindness  of  heart  and  simplicity  of  habits, 
his  strong  judgment  and  excellent  sense.  He  alluded  to  the  fact  that  General 
Taylor  had  shared  the  humblest  soldier's  fortune  in  the  campaign ;  that  he  had 
in  every  thing  identified  himself  with  his  troops.  He  alluded  to  that  hour  of 
the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  when  the  day  seemed,  if  not  lost,  to  be  going  against 
our  arms,  when  General  Taylor,  amidst  the  thickest  of  the  iron  hail,  rode  upon 
the  plateau,  and  calmly  surveyed  the  scene.  Vast  as  were  the  consequences  of 
that  hour,  he  appeared  to  fear  no  danger,  expect  no  harm.  From  that  moment, 
said  Colonel  Davis,  the  volunteers  felt  assured  of  victory.  The  presence  of  that 
old  man  inspired  a  courage  that  could  not  be  overcome ;  and  not  a  soldier  pre 
sent,  said  he,  (pointing  to  the  regiment  before  him,)  but  felt  then  willing  to  die 
rather  than  yield  an  inch.  It  was  not,  continued  Colonel  Davis,  alone  on  the 
battle-field  that  we  learned  to  love  General  Taylor.  The  excitement  of  the  car 
nage  over,  the  same  soul  that  could  remain  unmoved  when  his  friends  were  fall 
ing  like  leaves  around  him,  who  could  look  unblanched  upon  the  front  of  the 
thundering  artillery,  became  the  poor  soldier's  most  sympathizing  friend;  and 
the  eye,  so  stern  in  battle,  was  as  mild  as  the  tender-hearted  matron's." 


ANECDOTES    OF    TAYLOR.  331 

TAYLOR'S  HUMANITY  AND  GOOD  NATURE. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Montgomery  (Alabama)  Journal,  says  that  General 
Taylor  lately  had  occasion  to  visit  Point  Isabel,  after  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista, 
and  the  captain  of  the  steamboat  had  reserved  a  suite  of  state-rooms  for  the  Gen 
eral's  accommodation.  There  were  several  sick  and  wounded  volunteers  on  the 
boat,  en  route  for  New  Orleans,  who  had  to  take  the  wayfare  incident  to  a 
crowded  boat,  and  particularly  so  on  this  occasion.  General  Taylor  saw  all  this, 
and  at  once  ordered  these  men  to  be  placed  in  his  state-rooms,  and  proper  atten 
tion  paid  them.  It  was  rather  a  cold,  rainy  day  when  this  occurred.  The  deck 
hands  and  many  others  on  the  boat  did  not  know  General  Taylor.  The  wind 
blew  high,  and  the  firemen  had  raised  a  sail  in  front  of  the  boilers  to  protect 
themselves  from  the  rain,  and  under  this  sail  there  were  some  old  mattrasses ; 
here  General  Taylor  laid  down  and  went  to  sleep.  At  supper  time  great  inqui 
ries  were  made  for  the  General,  and  servants  sent  off  to  look  him  up.  But  he 
could  not  be  found  !  At  last  some  one  going  below,  inquired  of  a  fireman  if  he 
had  seen  any  thing  of  such  and  such  a  man  —  the  fireman  said  no,  but  added, 
"  there  is  a  clever  old  fellow  asleep  there  under  the  sail,  in  front  of  the  fire !" 
It  was  General  Taylor.  Yes,  sweet  indeed,  must  have  been  the  sleep  of  such 
a  man,  who  has  the  heart  to  change  places  with  the  poor  sick  soldier,  as  General 
Taylor  did  on  this  occasion  ;  such  humanity  stands  out  in  bold  relief,  and  greatly 
mitigate  the  evils  incident  to  war. 

The  following,  from  the  Picayune,  speaks  for  itself : — "The  parting  scene 
between  the  Mississippi  Regiment  and  General  Taylor,  we  are  told,  was  affect 
ing  in  the  extreme.  As  the  men  marched  by  him  to  return  to  their  homes, 
overpowered  with  a  recollection  of  the  high  deeds  which  had  endeared  them  to 
him,  and  with  their  demonstrations  of  respect  and  affection,  he  attempted  in 
vain  to  address  them.  With  tears  streaming  down  his  furrowed  cheeks,  all  he 
could  say  was,  <  Go  on  boys — go  on — I  can't  speak  !' " 

"  J.  E.  D.,"  the  Monterey  correspondent  of  the  New  Orleans  Picayune,  tells 
the  following  story : 

"  Did  you  ever  see  a  collection  of  men  that  could  not  turn  out  a  specimen  of 
what  is  generally  termed  « a  character  1'  If  you  ever  did,  you  can,  to  make  use 
of  a  vulgarism, « beat  my  time'  considerably,  for  I  never  did,  and  what  is  more, 
never  expect  to.  The  next  door  to  my  quarters  a  company  of  Virginia  volun 
teers  are  stationed,  and  as  they  turn  out  to  roll-call  and  drill  I  have  a  good  op 
portunity  of  observing  them.  I  had  noticed  among  the  men  a  short,  thick-set 
Irishman,  whose  head  seemed  to  have  settled  down  between  his  shoulders  a  trifle 
too  far  to  permit  him  to  sit  as  a  model  for  a  sculptor,  although  he  will  answer 
very  well  for  a  soldier.  There  was  something  so  odd  about  his  appearance 
.in  his  manner  of  performing  the  manual,  that  I  was  convinced  he  was  « a  c! 
racter,'  and  upon  expressing  my  belief  of  that  fact,  I  discovered  that  I  was  not 
far  wrong,  the  following  anecdote  being  related  of  him  : 

" « Plaze  sir,'  said  the  soldier,  touching  his  hat  to  his  captain,  <  whin  will  we 
be  paid  off,  sir  V  <In  a  few  days,  Patrick,'  replied  the  officer.  « Yis,  sir,'  con 
tinued  Pat,  'and  whin,  sir,  will  we  be  after  Santy  Anny,  the  blackguard"!' 
« That 's  more  than  I  can  tell  you,  Patrick  ;  it 's  rather  hard  to  tell  when  or 
where  he  will  show  himself,'  replied  the  officer.  <  Yis,  sir,  thank  you  kindly, 
sir,  we'll  be  paid  off  in  a  few  days  any  ways,  however,'  said  Pat,  as  he  touched 
his  hat  again  and  retired.  In  a  few  days  he  appeared  again  and  opened  the 


JOSEPHUS'S     FLAVIUS    WORKS. 

BT  THE  IATB  WILLIAM  WHISTON,  A.  M. 
From  ike  last  London  edition,  complete ,  and  the  only  readable  edition  published 

in  this  country. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  every  family  in  our  country  has  a  copy  of  the  Holy  Bible 
—and  as  the  presumption  is,  the  greater  portion  often  consult  its  pages,  we  take 
the  liberty  of  saying  to  all  those  that  do,  that  the  perusal  of  the  writings  of  Jose- 
phus  will  be  found  very  interesting  and  instructing. 

A.1  those  who  wish  to  possess  a  beautiful  and  correct  copy  of  this  invaluable 
work,  would  do  well  to  purchase  this  edition.  It  is  for  sale  at  all  the  principal 
bookstores  in  the  United  States,  by  country  merchants  generally  in  the  Southera 
and  Western  States. 


SAT'S  POLITICAL  ECONOMY. 

A  Treatise  on  Political  Economy,  or  the  Production,  Distribution,  and 
Consumption  of  Wealth.  By  Jean  Baptiste  Say.  Fifth  American  edi 
tion,  with  Additional  Notes,  by  C.  C.  Biddle,  Esq.,  in  1  vol.  8vo. 

It  would  be  beneficial  to  our  country  if  all  those  who  are  aspiring  to  office, 
were  required  by  their  constituents  to  be  conversant  with  the  pages  of  Say. 

The  distinguished  biographer  of  the  author,  in  noticing  this  work,  observes, 
"  Happily  for  science  he  commenced  that  study  which  forms  the  basis  of  his  admi 
rable  treatise  on  Political  Economy,  a  work  which  not  only  improved  under  hia 
hand  with  every  successive  edition,  but  has  been  translated  into  most  of  the  Euro 
pean  languages." 

The  editor  of  the  North  American  Review,  speaking  of  Say,  observes,  that "  he  is 
the  most  popular,  and  perhaps  the  most  able  writer  on  Political  Economy,  since 
the  time  of  Smith." 


BENNETT'S  (REV.  JOHN)  LETTERS  TO  A  YOUNG  LADY, 

On  a  variety  of  subjects  calculated  to  improve  the  heart,  to  form  the  man 
ners,  and  enlighten  the  understanding.  "  That  our  Daughters  may  be 
as  polished  comers  of  the  Temple." 

The  publishers  sincerely  hope,  (for  the  happiness  of  mankind,)  that  a  copy  of  this 
valuable  little  work  will  be  found  the  companion  of  every  young  lady,  as  much  of 
the  happiness  of  every  family  depends  on  the  proper  cultivation  of  the  female  mind. 

BORDER'S    VILLAGE   SERMONS. 

Or,  101  Plain  and  Short  Discourses  on  the  Principal  Doctrines  of  the 
Gospel ;  intended  for  the  use  of  Families,  Sunday  Schools,  or  compa 
nies  assembled  for  religious  instruction  in  country  villages.  By  George 
Burder.  To  which  is  added,  to  each  Sermon,  a  short  Prayer,  with 
some  General  Prayers  for  Families,  Schools,  &c.;  at  the  end  of  the 
work.  Complete  in  1  vol.  8vo. 

These  sermons,  which  are  characterized  by  a  beautiful  simplicity,  the  entire 
absence  of  controversy,  and  a  true  evangelical  spirit,  have  gone  through  many 
and  large  editions,  and  been  translated  into  several  of  the  continental  languages. 
"  They  have  also  been  the  honored  means  not  only  of  converting  many  individuals, 
but  also  of  introducing  the  Gospel  into  districts,  and  even  into  parish  churches, 
where  before  it  was  comparatively  unknown." 
"  This  work  fully  deserves  the  immortality  it  has  attained." 
This  is  a  fine  library  edition  of  this  invaluable  work,  and  when  we  say  that  it 
should  be  found  in  the  possession  of  every  family,  we  only  reiterate  the  sentiments 
and  sincere  wishes  of  all  who  take  a  deep  interest  in  the  eternal  welfare  of  man 
kind. 

2 


NEW    SONG     BOOK, 

Grigg's  Southern  and  Western  Songster ;  being  a  choice  collection  of  the 
most  Fashionable  Songs,  many  of  which  are  original,  in  1  vol.  18rno. 
Great  care  was  taken  in  the  selection,  to  admit  no  song  that  contained,  in  the 
slightest  degree,  any  indelicate  or  improper  allusions,  and  with  great  propriety  it 
may  claim  the  title  of  "  The  Parlor  Song  Book  or  Songster."     The  immortal 
Shakspeare  observes — 

"  The  man  that  hath  not  music  in  himself, 

Nor  is  not  moved  with  concord  of  sweet  sounds, 

Is  fit  for  treasons,  stratagems,  and  spoils." 

FAMILY  PRAYERS  AND  HYMNS, 

Adapted  to  Family  Worship,  and  Tables  for  the  regular  Reading  of  the 
Scriptures.  By  Rev.  S.  C.  Winchester,  A.  M.,  late  Pastor  of  the  Sixth 
Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia;  and  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Natchez,  Miss.  1  vol.  12mo. 

A  DICTIONARY  OF  SELECT  AND  POPULAR  QUOTATIONS, 
Which  are  in  Daily  Use :  taken  from  the  Latin,  French,  Greek,  Spamsh 
and  Italian  Languages;  together  with  a  copious  collection  of  Law 
Maxims  and  Law  Terms.  Translated  into  English,  with  illustrations, 
historical  and  idiomatic.  Sixth  American  edition,  corrected  with  addi 
tions.  1  vol.  12mo. 

In  preparing  this  sixth  edition  for  the  press,  care  has  been  taken  to  give  the 
work  a  thorough  revision,  to  correct  some  errors  which  had  before  escaped  notice, 
and  to  insert  many  additional  Quotations,  Law  maxims  and  Law  terms.  In  this 
state  it  is  offered  to  the  public  in  the  stereotype  form.  This  little  work  should 
find  its  way  into  every  family  library. 

THE  AMERICAN"   CHESTERFIELD. 

Or,  "Youth's  Guide  to  the  Way  to  Wealth,  Honor,  and  Distinction,77  &c.'. 

containing  also  a  complete  Treatise  on  the  art  of  Carving. 

"  We  most  cordially  recommend  the  American  Chesterfield  to  general  atten 
tion  ;  but  to  young  persons  particularly,  as  one  of  the  best  works  of  the  kind  that 
has  ever  been  published  in  this  country.  It  cannot  be  too  highly  appreciated,  nor 
its  perusal  be  unproductive  of  satisfaction  and  usefulness." 

SENECA'S    MORALS. 

By  way  of  Abstract,  to  which  is  added,  a  Discourse  under  the  title  of  an 
After-Thought,  by  Sir  Roger  L'Estrange,  Knt.  A  new  fine  edition,  1 

«    vol.  18mo. 

A  copy  of  this  valuable  little  work  should  be  found  in  every  family  library. 

THE  DAUGHTER'S  OWN  BOOK. 

Or,  Practical  Hints  from  a  Father  to  his  Daughter.     1  vol.  18mo. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  practical  and  truly  valuable  treatises  on  the  culture  and 
discipline  of  the  female  mind,  which  has  hitherto  been  published  in  this  country, 
and  the  publishers  are  very  confident,  from  the  great  demand  for  this  invaluable 
little  work,  that  ere  long  it  will  be  found  in  the  library  of  every  young  lady. 

GOLDSMITH'S     ANIMATED     NATURE. 

In  2  vols.  8vo.,  beautifully  Illustrated  with  385  Plates. 

"Goldsmith  can  never  be  made  obsolete  while  delicate  genius,  exquisite  feel 
ing,  fine  invention,  the  most  harmonious  metre,  and  the  happiest  diction  are  at  alJ 
valued." 

This  is  a  work  that  should  be  in  the  library  of  every  family,  being  written  by 
one  of  the  most  talented  authors  in  the  English  language. 

3 


THE  STOCK  RAISEE'S  MANUAL. 

A  Guide  to  the  Raising  and  Improvment  of  Cattle,  being  a  Treatise  on  their 
Breeds,  Management,  and  Diseases.  By  W.  Youatt,  author  of  a  "  Trea 
tise  on  the  Horse,"  with  numerous  illustrations.  Complete  in  1  vol.  8vo. 
This  work  will  be  found  of  the  greatest  importance  to  farmers  and  cattle  raisers 

throughout  the  United  States,  and  should  be  in  the  possession  of  every  farmer,  as 

it  is  the  most  complete  work  on  this  subject  ever  published. 


OTAHON'S  AMERICAN  GARDENER. 

Ninth  edition,  much  improved.    In  1  vol.  8vo. 

This  is  an  invaluable  work  to  all  who  wish  to  obtain  any  information  on  the  sub 
ject  of  Gardening  in  all  its  various  branches. 


GRIGG,    ELLIOT    &    CO'S 

RURAL  REGISTER  AND  ALMANAC 

For  184§ :  to  be  continued  Annually. 

For  farmers  and  gardeners  it  is  invaluable,  giving  full  directions  for  all  their 
work  for  every  month  in  the  year,  and  for  all  the  States  in  the  Union.  There  is 
no  work  ever  published  that  contains  so  much  useful  and  valuable  information  in 
so  cheap  and  convenient  a  form  ;  and  we  do  say  that  no  farmer  or  gardener,  who 
is  worth  a  "bit,"  should  be  without  one.  There  is  no  pursuit  in  which  more  real 
rational  enjoyment  and  comfort  will  follow  to  an  industrious  man  than  Hjrtieul- 
tural  employments. 

BOOK  OF  POLITENESS. 

The  Gentleman  and  Lady's  Book  of  Politeness  and  Propriety  of  Deport 
ment.  Dedicated  to  the  Youth  of  both  sexes.  By  Madame  Celnart 
Translated  from  the  Sixth  Paris  edition,  enlarged  and  improved.  Fifth 
American  edition. 


THE   BEAUTIES   OF  HISTORY. 

Or,  Examples  of  the  Opposite  Effects  of  Virtue  and  Vice,  for  the  use  oi 
Families.     1  vol.  12mo.,  with  plates. 

"After  a  careful  examination  of  this  book,  we  can  conscientiously  recommend 
it  to  parents  and  teachers  as  a  most  meritorious  performance.  There  are  here 
collected,  within  a  narrow  compass,  the  most  striking  examples  of  individual  virtut 
and  vice  which  are  spread  forth  on  the  pages  of  history,  or  are  recorded  in  per 
sonal  biography.  The  noblest  precepts  are  recommended  for  the  guidance  o 
youth;  and  in  the  most  impressive  manner  is  he  taught  to  conquer  the  degrading 
impulses  which  lower  the  standard  of  the  human  character.  We  have  not  Intel] 
met  with  a  volume  which,  in  design  and  execution,  seemed  so  acceptable  as  this 
The  book,  moreover,  is  handsomely  got  up,  and  illustrated  with  wood  engrav- 
ings." 


THE   CLERGYMAN'S   ASSISTANT. 

Or,  Guide  in  Reading  the  Liturgy'  containing  Directions  for  Reading  Cor 
rectly  with  the  Pronunciation.    By  Rev.  VV.  H.  Odenheimer,  of  Phila* 
delphia.     1  vol.  12mo.,  cloth. 
6 


LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

In  one  vol.  12mo.,  with  100  Illustrations. 

"  Life  of  Rear  Admiral  John  Paul  Jones,"  &c.  &c.,  by  James  Hamilton.  The 
work  is  compiled  from  his  original  journals  and  correspondence;  and  includes  an 
account  of  his  services  in  the  American  Revolution,  and  in  the  war  between  the 
Russians  and  Turks  in  the  Black  Sea.  There  is  scarcely  any  Naval  Hero  of  any 
age  who  combined  in  his  character  so  much  of  the  adventurous,  skyful  and  daring, 
as  Paul  Jones.  The  incidents  of  his  life  are  almost  as  startling  and  absorbing  as 
those  of  romance.  His  achievements  during  the  American  Revolution — the  fight 
between  the  Bon  Homme  Richard  and  Serapis,  the  most  desperate  naval  action  on 
record,  and  the  alarm  into  which,  with  so  small  a  force,  he  threw  the  coasts  of 
England  and  Scotland,  are  matters  comparatively  well  known  to  Americans;  but 
the  incidents  of  his  subsequent  career  have  been  veiled  in  obscurity,  which  is  dis 
sipated  by  this  Biography*  A  book  like  this,  narrating  the  actions  of  such  a  man, 
ought  to  meet  with  an  extensive  sale,  and  become  as  popular  as  Robinson  Crusoe 
in  fiction,  or  Weems'  Life  of  Marion  and  Washington,  and  similar  books  in  fact. 
It  contains  400  pages — has  a  handsome  portrait  and  medallion  likeness  of  Jones, 
and  is  illustrated  with  numerous  original  wood  engravings  of  naval  scenes  and 
distinguished  men  with  whom  he  was  familiar. 

.  G.  Curtis,  Esq.,  editor  of  The  Commercial,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  speaking  of  this 
work,  &c.,  observes: — "  Life  of  Rear  Admiral  Paul  Jones,  illustrateu  with  nume 
rous  engravings  from  original  drawings."  This  book  we  prize  above  any  in  our 
possession.  John  Paul  Jones  was  truly  an  extraordinary  man.  He  had  the  honor 
to  hoist  with  his  own  hands  the  flag  of  freedom,  the  first  time  it  was  displayed  in 
the  Delaware,  and  in  after  life  declared  that  he  attended  it  with  veneration  ever 
after.  To  Paul  Jones  the  honor  of  raising  up  an  American  navy  belongs.  He  was 
the  first  commander  in  the  world  who  made  the  proud  flag  of  England  "come 
down."  His  life,  as  printed  by  Messrs.  Grigg,  Elliot  &  Co.,  should  be  in  the 
hands  of  every  intelligent  American. 


WALKER'S  SCHOOL  AND  FAMILY  DICTIONARY, 

NEW     EDITION. 

FROM    NEW  STEREOTYPE   PLATES,  GREATLY   IMPROVED,  AND  PRINTED 
ON    WHITE    PAPER. 

A  Critical  Pronouncing  Dictionary  and  Expositor  of  the  English  language, 
in  which  the  meaning  of  every  word  is  explained,  and  the  sound  of 
every  syllable  distinctly  shown.  To  which  are  prefixed  an  Abstract  of 
English.  Pronunciation,  and  Directions  to  Foreigners  for  Acquiring  a 
Knowledge  of  the  Use  of  this  Dictionary.  By  John  Walker,  author  of 
"  Elements  of  Elocution,"  "  Rhyming  Dictionary,"  &c.  &c.  Abridged 
for  the  use  of  Schools,  by  an  American  Citizen. 

P.  S.  This  is  a  new  edition,  on  fine  paper,  and  improved  in  printing  and  bind 
ing.  Parents  and  Teachers  will  please  examine  and  order  Grigg,  Elliot  &  Co.'s 
Improved  Edition. 

An  eminent  writer,  and  a  good  judge  of  the  value  of  Dictionaries,  observes  ac 
follows: — 

We  have  received  from  the  publishers,  Messrs.  Grigg,  Elliot  &  Co.,  No.  14 
Norft  Fourth  Street,  a  copy  of  their  new  and  handsome  edition  of  Walker's  Criti 
cal  Pronouncing  Dictionary  for  Schools.  The  present  edition  is  decidedly  the 
best  and  most  convenient  we  have  ever  seen,  both  in  regard  to  the  size  of  the 
type  on  which  it  is  printed,  and  the  style  and  form  in  which  it  is  issued.  It  has  been 
"got  up"  in  a  handsome  and  substantial  manner,  expressly  for  schools — has  been 
greatly  improved  and  made  better  in  every  respect  for  teachers  and  scholars.  All 
teachers  who  have  any  regard  for  their  eyes  and  the  eyes  of  their  scholars,  would 
find  it  to  their  advantage  to  use  this  edition,  printed  as  it  is  from  new  stereotype, 
plates  and  on  clean  white  paper.  The  edition  is  for  sale  by  booksellers  and  coun 
try  merchants  generally  throughout  the  United  States. 


BOLLES'  PHONOGRAPHIC  PRONOUNCING  DICTIONARY 

IN   ONE    VOL.   ROYAL    8VO. 

This  valuable  work  has  met  with  the  most  favorable  reception  from  the  Amei 
can  public.  It  contains  more  words  than  the  8vo.  edition  of  Webster,  and  has  tl 
pronunciation  attached  according  to  the  best  authorities,  which  is  a  very  impoi 
ant  addition,  and  renders  the  work  much  more  desirable  for  general  use  ai 
reference  than  of  any  of  the  large  dictionaries  now  in  use.  No  man  of  busine 
or  family  ehould»be  without  this  valuable  Dictionary. 

The  same  work  abridged,  in  1  vol.  12mo.,  we  have  just  published  also,  whi< 
will  be  found  an  invaluable  class  book  for  academies,  seminaries,  and  higher  ord 
of  schools,  as  well  as  an  important  companion  to  the  education  of  every  youi 
person. 


BIGLAND'S  NATURAL  HISTORY 

Of  Animal?1,  Birds,  Fishes,  Reptiles  and  Insects,  illustrated  with  num 
rous  and  beautiful  engravings.     By  John  Bigland,  author  of  a  "Vie 
of  the  World,"  "Letters  on  Universal  History,"  &c.     Complete  in 
vol.  12mo. 
$$-  This  work  is  particularly  adapted  for  the  use  of  Schools  and  Familie 

forming  the  most  elegantly  written  and  complete  work  on  the  subject  of  Natur 

History  ever  published,  and  is  worthy  of  the  special  attention  of  the  teaehers 

all  our  schools  and  academies. 


BIGLAND'S  NATURAL  HISTORY  OF  ANIMALS 
Illustrated  with  12  beautifully  colored  engravings. 

BIGLAND'S  HISTORY  OF  BIRDS. 

Illustrated  with  12  beautifully  colored  engravings. 


©IFo 

By  Shoberl,  with  12  colored  plates. 

These  works  are  got  up  in  a  very  superior  style,  and  well  deserve  an  introdu 
tion  to  the  shelves  of  every  family  library,  as  they  are  very  interesting,  and  pa 
ticularly  adapted  to  the  juvenile  class  of  readers. 


GRIMSHAW'S  POPULAR  HISTORIES. 

FOR  SCHOOLS  AND  FAMILY  LIBRARIES, 

GRIMSHAW'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

Recently  brought  up  by  the  author  to  the  present  time. 
Also.  Questions  adapted  to  the  above  History;  and  a  Key,  adapted  to  th 
Questions,  for  the  use  of  Teachers  and  Families. 

GRIMSHAW'S  HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 
Recently  brought  up  by  the  author  to  the  present  time. 
Also,  Questions  adapted  to  the  above  History;  and  a  Key,  adapted  to  m 
Questions,  for  the  use  of  Teachers  and  Families. 

GRIMSHAW'S  IMPROVED  EDITION  OF  GOLDSMITH'S  HISTOR 

OF  GREECE, 

With  a  Vocabulary  of  the  Proper  Names  contained  in  the  work,  and  th 
Prosodial  Accents,  in  conformity  with  the  Pronunciation  of  Lemprien 
Also,  Questions  adapted  to  the  above  History;  and  a  Key,  adapted  to  th 
Questions,  for  the  use  of  Teachers  and  Families, 
8 


GRIMSHAW'S  IMPROVED  EDITION  OF  GOLDSMITH'S  HISTORY 

OF  ROME. 

Revised  and  Corrected ;  and  a  Vocabulary  of  Proper  Names  appended, 
with  Prosodial  Marks  to  assist  in  their  Pronunciation. 

Also,  Questions  adapted  to  the  above  History;  and  a  Key,  adapted  to  the 
Questions,  for  the  use  of  Teachers  and  Families. 

GRIMSHAW'S  HISTORY  OF  FRANCE,  with  Key  and  Questions, 
GRIMSHAW'S  HISTORY  AND  LIFE  OF  NAPOLEON. 

The  editor  of  the  North  American  Review,  speaking  of  these  Histories,  ob 
serves,  that — 

Among  the  Elementary  Books  of  American  History,  we  do  not  remember  to 
have  seen  any  one  more  deserving  approbation  than  Mr.  Grimshaw's  History  of 
the  United  States.  It  is  a  small  volume,  and  a  great  deal  of  matter  is  brought 
into  a  narrow  space;  but  the  author  has  succeeded  so  well  in  the  construction  of 
his  periods,  and  the  arrangement  of  his  materials,  that  perspicuity  is  rarely  sacri 
ficed  to  brevity. 

The  chain  of  narrative  is  skilfully  preserved ;  and  the  author's  reflections  are 
frequently  such  as  to  make  the  facts  more  impressive,  and  lead  the  youthful  mind 
to  observe  causes  and  consequences  which  might  otherwise  have  been  overlooked. 
As  a  school  book  it  may  justly  be  recommended. 

What  has  been  said  of  this  volume  will  apply  generally  to  his  other  historical 
works.  They  are  each  nearly  of  the  same  size  as  the  one  just  noticed,  and  de 
signed  for  the  same  object,  that  is,  the  use  of  classes  in  schools. 

The  History  of  England  is  an  original  composition ;  but  the  Grecian  and  Roman 
Histories  are  Goldsmith's,  improved  by  Grimshaw,  in  which  he  has  corrected  the 
typographical  errors  with  which  the  later  editions  of  Goldsmith's  Abridgements 
so  much  abound ;  and  removed  any  grossness  in  language,  which,  in  some  few 
instances,  render  these  valuable  compends  less  useful  in  the  schools  to  which 
youth  of  both  sexes  resort.  He  has  also  added  a  Vocabulary  of  Proper  Names, 
accentuated,  in  order  to  show  their  right  pronunciation,  which  is  a  valuable  ap 
pendage  to  the  History. 

All  these  books  are  accompanied  with  very  full  and  well-digested  Tables  of 
Questions,  for  the  benefit  of  Pupils,  and  also  with  Keys  to  the  same,  for  the  con 
venience  of  Teachers. 

GRIMSHAW'S  LADIES'  LEXICON, 

And  Parlor  Companion;  containing  nearly  every  word  in  the  English 
language,  and  exhibiting  the  plurals  of  nouns  and  the  participles  of 
verbs;  being  also  particularly  adapted  to  the  use  of  Academies  and 
Schools.  By  William  Grimshaw,  Esq. 

In  the  Nashville  Republican,  we  observe  the  following  notice  of  this  very  useful 
book  :— 

In  recommending  the  "  Ladies'  Lexicon,"  therefore,  to  all  our  readers,  male 
and  female,  who  have  ever  experienced  the  difficulties  which  it  is  so  admirably 
calculated  to  remedy,  we  but  do  an  ordinary  act  of  justice  to  the  author  and  pub 
lisher.  We  consider  the  "Ladies'  Lexicon,"  and  recommend  it  to  our  readers  as 
a  work  that  possesses  superior  claims  on  their  attention  and  patronage. 

THE  GENTLEMEN'S  LEXICON. 

Or,  Pocket  Dictionary:  containing  nearly  every  word  in  the  English  lan 
guage,  and  exhibiting  the  plurals  of  nouns  and  the  participles  of  verbs; 
being  also  particularly  adapted  to  the  use  of  Academies  and  Schools. 
By  William  Grimshaw. 

The  public  are  again  indebted  to  the  talents  of  Mr.  Grimshaw,  for  the  very  use 
ful  books  which  he  has  called  "The  Ladies'  and  Gentlemen's  Lexicons."  The 
peculiarity  and  advantages  of  these  works  may  be  collected  from  the  following 
portion  of  the  preface : — 

9 


They  differ  from  all  preceding  works  of  the  kind  in  this,  that  they  exhibit  th 
plurals  of  all  nouns  which  are  not  formed  by  the  mere  addition  of  the  letter  i 
and  also  the  participles  of  every  verb  now  generally  used,  and  unless  accompa 
nied  by  a  particular  caution.  No  word  has  been  admitted  which  is  not  now  ( 
polite  or  popular  use;  and  no  word  has  been  excluded  which  is  required  either  i 
epistolatory  composition  or  conversation. 

In  giving  the  above  extracts  we  take  occasion  to  say,  that  teachers  will  find  th 
"Ladies'  and  Gentlemen's  Lexicons"  works  admirably  adapted  to  take  the  plact 
with  advantage  to  their  pupils,  of  the  different  works  recently  put  into  their  hand 
under  the  name  of  Expositors,  &c. 

j)^-  The  above  work  has  been  introduced  as  a  Classbook  into  many  of  on 
academies  and  schools,  with  great  approbation. 


Ruschenberger's  First  Books  of  Natural  History 

FOR    SCHOOLS,    ACADEMIES,    COLLEGES,    AND    FAMILIES. 


DR.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS  OF  ANATOMY  AND 

PHYSIOLOGY. 
For  the  use  of  Schools  and  Families;  with  45  illustrations.     1  vol.  12m( 

This  is  a  most  valuable  work,  by  Dr.  Ruschenberger :  and  most  admirably  ar 
the  plates,  representing  all  the  different  parts  of  the  body,  done.  It  is  cheap 
and  every  parent  should  place  one  in  the  hands  of  his  children. — N.  Y.  Herald. 

DR.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS  OF  MAMMALOGY. 

The  Natural  History  of  Quadrupeds;  for  beginners;  75  illustrations. 

vol.  12mo. 

This  number  treats  of  all  animals  that  in  infancy  feed  on  the  milk  of  the: 
mothers,  from  the  human  being  down  to  the  musquito-catching  bat.  Like  th 
"  First  Book,"  it  is  divided  into  Questions  and  Answers,  and  a  Glossary;  and  i 
illustrated  by  six  plates.  It  is  very  cheap;  and  contains  an  abundance  of  usefi 
information.  There  are  thousands  of  persons  in  this  country,  and  millions  i 
Europe,  who  do  not  know  that  whales  give  milk. — New  York  Era. 

We  do  not  know  a  more  useful  set  than  this  promises  to  be — and  IS. — New  Yor 
Aurora. 

DR.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS  OF  ORNITHOLOGY. 

The  Natural  History  of  Birds;  for  beginners;  81  illustrations.    1  vol.  12mc 

New  York,  Feb.  9,  1846. 

Sir — I  have  received  your  note  of  the  3d  instant,  together  with  the  "  Element 
of  Ornithology,"  prepared  for  the  use  of  Schools  and  Colleges,  by  W.  S.  W 
Ruschenberger,  M.  D.,  &c.,  and  have  read  the  work,  in  compliance  with  the  re 
quest  of  the  American  Institute,  that  I  should  examine  and  report  upon  it. 

I  have  great  pleasure  in  highly  recommending  it.  To  say  the  truth,  although 
am  somewhat  blanched  by  the  hand  of  time,  and  have  many  years  been  a  studen 
of  Ornithology,  I  consider  the  present  the  very  best  introduction  to  that  scienc 
that  I  have  ^ver  seen ;  and  I  might  add  as  full  praise  to  the  other  works  of  th 
series  of  Ruschenberger's  text- books  of  Natural  History,  as  far  as  I  am  acquainted 
with  the  subjects  they  relate  to. 

Dr.  Ruschenberger  has,  in  giving  this  series  to  the  public,  rendered  a  benefit  t 
all  seekers  after  science,  as  both  old  and  young  may  profit  by  the  well-arrangei 
and  valuable  information  these  volumes  contain.  Your  obedient  servant, 

To  H.  Meigs,  Esq.,  JOHN  J.  AUDUBON. 

Recording  Secretary  of  the  American  Institute,  New  York  City. 

We  wish  we  could  induce  our  teachers  generally  to  examine  this,  as  well  as  thi 
earlier  works  of  Dr.  Ruschenberger;  they  are  admirably  arranged,  and  just  th< 
very  books  needed  for  schools.  The  work  before  us,  on  the  Natural  History  o 
Birds,  is  an  admirable  one;  and  no  teacher  should  neglect  to  introduce  the  series 

Cincinnati  Gazette. 

10 


We  hare  much  pleasure  in  commending  this  series  of  works — the  third  of 
which,  now  before  us,  is  on  Ornithology.  It  will  be  found  useful  in  the  school 
room,  or  the  private  study. — U.  S.  Gazette. 

DR.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS   OF   HERPETOLOGY   AND 
ICHTHYOLOGY. 

The  Natural  History  of  Reptiles  and  Fishes;  for  beginners;  66  illustra 
tions.     1  vol.  12mo. 

Ruschenberger's  Series  of  Books  on  Natural  History  are  among  the  most  yalu- 
able  and  useful  works,  for  the  use  of  Schools,  that  have  ever  been  published.  A 
knowledge  of  Natural  History  is  not  only  valuable,  but  deeply  interesting  ;  and  no 
ione'8  education  can,  with  such  facilities  as  these  works  afford,  be  considered  com 
plete  without  it. — National  Intelligencer. 

DR.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS  OF  CONCHOLOGY. 

The  Natural  History  of  Shells  and  Mollusca;  for  beginners;  119  illustra 
tions.     1  vol.  12mo. 

"  We  have  no  hand-books  equal  to  these ;  and  we  think  Dr.  R.  has  conferred 
L  obligation  upon  teachers  and  learners  by  producing  them  in  an  English  dress, 
jrith  all  the  advantages  of  well-engraved  illustrations.  The  whole  set  of  this 
frork,  which  is  furnished  at  a  low  price,  will  prove  an  invaluable  acquisition  to  the 
Bchool  library." 

DR.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 
The  Natural  History  of  Insects  •  for  beginners ;  9 1  illustrations.  1  vol.  12mo. 

The  subjects  are  well  treated;  and  from  the  exceeding  cheapness  and  admirable 
irrangement  of  these  elementary  works,  they  are  well  fitted  for  general  use  in 
Public  Schools,  Academies,  and  in  every  private  library. — New  York  American. 

DR.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS  OF  BOTANY. 

The  Natural  History  of  Plants;   for  beginners;  194  illustrations.     1 
12rao. 

We  do  not  hesitate  to  say,  that  this  is  the  best  work  of  the  kind  and  d' 
that  has  ever  fa-lien  under  our  notice.     We  hope  all  will  embrace  the 
tunity  of  procuring  a  copy,  as  we  are  sure  they  will  prize  it  hip' 
Recorder. 

We  regard  this  series  as  eminently  useful,  supplying  adequate 
in  Natural  History  necessary  to  a  proper  school  edifeation. — Nf 

DR.  RUSCHENBERGER'S  ELEMENTS  OF 

The  Natural  History  of  the  Earth's  Structure;  for 
with  300  beautiful  Wood-cuts,  designed  to  as? 
course  of  his  studies.  1  vol.  12mo. 

"  We  agree  with  a  competent  judge  in  the  opinion 
and  beautiful  Elementary  Treatise  on  the  subject  wb 
country.     The  subject  of  Geology  is  now  attracting 
to  excite  still  more  attention  in  the  United  Stater 
are  becoming  more  fully  developed;  and, this  wo 
public,  in  training  up  the  young  for  future  study 

The  series  of  books  of  which  this  forms  a  pa 
mended  by  the  ablest  judges,  as  furnishing  r 
branches  of  knowledge,  but  too  much  neglet 
amined  the  volumes  with  much  care,  and  w 
praise  bestowed  on  them.— Codecs  Lady's  E 


'*  The  above  series,  taken  separately  or  collectively,  is  considered  one  of  the 
most  valuable  contributions  to  the  cause  of  education  which  has  ever  been  pub- 
dshed  in  this  country." 

This  interesting  Series  of  Books  has  already  met  with  the  most  flattering  recep 
tion  from  the  American  press.  They  have  been  introduced  into  the  public  schools 
of  Pennsylvania,  Massachusetts,  Ohio,  Maine,  New  York,  Tennessee,  Alabama, 
Georgia,  Illinois,  Indiana,  the  Carolinas,  &c.,  and  many  of  the  first  class  Semi 
naries  of  Learning  in  the  United  States.  The  moderate  price  of  this  series  is  a 
great  recommendation,  being  half  the  price  of  the  common  school  books  in  use, 
on  the  same  subject. 

Yale  College,  Dec.  19,  1845. 

I  think  this  an  excellent  work — condensed,  lucid,  exact,  and  comprehensive — z. 
safe  guide  for  the  pupil,  and  a  useful  review  for  the  teacher.  The  illustration! 
are  numerous  and  exact.  B.  SILLIMAN. 

Extract  of  a  Report  to  the  American  Institute. 

Your  committee  with  much  pleasure  recommend  this  highly  valuable  book  t> 
the  attention  of  those  who  conduct  our  Schools,  Academies,  and  Colleges,  as  i 
work  excellently  calculated  to  give  the  first  outlines  of  the  very  important  study 
of  Geology  to  students,  Nor  do  we  hesitate  to  say,  that  all  men,  except  learned 
Geologists  alone,  will  feel,  after  its  perusal,  that  they  have  received  a  great  i> 
ward  for  a  very  small  expense  of  time  and  money.  JAMES  J.  MAPES. 


GRIGG    &    ELLIOT'S    NEW    SERIES    OF 

COMMON    SCHOOL    KEADEES, 

Numbers  First,  Second,  Third  and  Fourth. 

These  books  are  particularly  adapted  for  an  introduction  into  the  Sphools  gene 
rally  in  the  South  and  West ;  and  Teachers  who  feel  a  deep  interest  in  promotinj 
the  welfare  of  their  pupils,  will,  no  doubt,  after  a  careful  examination,  give  then 
the  preference  over  all  other  Readers  now  in  use. 

Parents  and  Teachers  will  please  read  the  following  notice  of  this  invaluab)« 
series  of  Elementary  School  Books. 

We  called  attention  to  the  above-named  series  of  Common  School  books  several  week* 
'e,  when  publishing  an  advertisement  for  the  sale  of  them  by  some  of  our  merchants. 
r  that  time  we  have  had  opportunity  to  give  them  a  thorough  examination,  and  we 
due  to  the  community  in  which  we  live,  and  the  proprietors  of  those  interesting  pub* 
s,  to  notice  them  more  particularly.    They  certainly  contribute  a  valuable  addition 
ick  of  elementary  literature ;  in  their  plan  and  details  presenting  an  intimate 
l-ce  with  the  necessities  that  demanded  their  production,  and  developing,  in  their 
a  wisdom  and  zeal  in  adapting  the  material  at  hand  to  the  attainment  of  the 
.  every  way  worthy  of  commendation  and  confidence. 
~'  -s  reader  is  exactly  such  a  book  as  would  interest  and  impress  the  minds 
'i  boys  and  girls.    Composed  of  short  and  easy  words,  embodying  plea- 
instruction,  it  is  just  the  thing  for  infant  learners,  who  find  in  it  such 
^adily  prorwunce,  and  such  ideas  as  they  can  easily  comprehend.    In 
Class  Readers  the  style  increases  in  the  intricacy  of  diction  and  the 
in  beautiful  consistency  with  the  progress  of  attentive  and  studious 
Danced  stages  of  primary  school  education.     The  Fourth  Class 
compendium  of  deeply  interesting  and  instructive  facts,  argu- 
wn  from  that  unfailing  repository  of  truth,  the  history  of  the  men 
Ties.    It  is  a  reprint  of  the  "  Beauties  of  History,"  consisting  of 
n  made  illustrious  by  the  splendor  of  their  talents  and  virtues, 
is  by  the  vileness  of  their  characters  and  crimes.    It  is,  there- 
se  who  are  completing  their  term  of  study,  preparatory  to 
;  inviting  and  encouraging  them  by  the  bright  example  of 
'•arrow  path,  and  warning  them,  by  the  wretchedness  and 
•  the  broad  road  of  sin  and  death. 

T  Second  Reader,  is  a  chapter  giving  directions  for  the 

•t  style  of  reading,  the  great  importance  of  which  all 

For  the  truth  of  these  remarks,  we  refer  to  the  books 

ries,  and  all  who  purchase  to  sell  again,  supplied  on 
article  in  the  Book  and  Stationery  line ;  including 
ry  department  of  literature  and  science. 
;  paid  to  all  orders,  through  country  merchants,  or 
ineous  Books,  for  public  and  private  libraries,  and 
such  orders  on  the  most  reasonable  terms. 


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